Sec. 21.553. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. (a) The pilot program must offer to participants financial incentives, including tuition assistance and loan forgiveness. In offering a financial incentive, the State Board for Educator Certification shall:

(1) require a contract between each participant who accepts a financial incentive and the State Board for Educator Certification under which the participant is obligated to teach in a public school in this state for a stated period after certification;

(2) provide financial incentives in proportion to the length of the period the participant is obligated by contract to teach after certification; and

(3) give special financial incentives to a participant who agrees in the contract to teach in an underserved area.

(b) Financial incentives may be paid only from funds appropriated specifically for that purpose and from gifts, grants, and donations solicited or accepted by the State Board for Educator Certification for that purpose.

(c) The State Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules establishing criteria for awarding financial incentives under this section, including criteria for awarding financial incentives if there are more participants than funds available to provide the financial incentives.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1590, Sec. 8, eff. June 19, 1999. Renumbered from Sec. 21.503 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(16), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.