1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; establishing requirements for 
  1.3             qualified teachers and paraprofessionals; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 122A.22; proposing 
  1.5             coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 122A.
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 122A.22, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      122A.22 [DISTRICT RECORDING OF TEACHER LICENSES; DISPLAY.] 
  1.10     No person shall be accounted a qualified teacher until the 
  1.11  person has filed for record with the district superintendent 
  1.12  where the person intends to teach a license, or certified copy 
  1.13  of a license, authorizing the person to teach school in the 
  1.14  district school system.  In addition, licensed teachers must 
  1.15  prominently display a copy of their license or credential in 
  1.16  their instructional area or office.  
  1.17     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective for the 
  1.18  2003-2004 school year and later. 
  1.19     Sec. 2.  [122A.34] [CREDENTIAL FOR EDUCATION 
  1.20  PARAPROFESSIONALS.] 
  1.21     Subdivision 1.  [RULEMAKING.] The board of teaching must 
  1.22  adopt rules to implement a statewide credential for education 
  1.23  paraprofessionals who assist a licensed teacher in providing 
  1.24  student instruction. 
  1.25     Subd. 2.  [INITIAL TRAINING.] Before supervising or working 
  2.1   with students, each paraprofessional must receive initial 
  2.2   training in emergency procedures, confidentiality, 
  2.3   vulnerability, reporting obligations, discipline policies, roles 
  2.4   and responsibilities, and a building orientation. 
  2.5      Subd. 3.  [ADDITIONAL TRAINING POSSIBILITIES.] In adopting 
  2.6   rules under subdivision 1, the board must consider including 
  2.7   provisions that provide paraprofessionals with training in 
  2.8   students' characteristics, diversity, supporting the teaching 
  2.9   and learning environment, academic instructional skills, 
  2.10  managing student behavior, and ethical practices. 
  2.11     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.12  following final enactment.