SB184: Bill Text

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 184

April 24, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Marklein, Cowles, Darling, Kooyenga, Nass and Testin, cosponsored by Representatives Tranel, Myers, Dittrich, Edming, Felzkowski, Gundrum, Knodl, Kulp, Kurtz, Novak, Rohrkaste, Skowronski, Spiros, Tittl, Wichgers, Wittke, Zimmerman and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB184,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 118.193 (2) (b); to amend 118.193 (2) (intro.); and to create 118.193 (2) (b) 2. and 118.193 (5) of the statutes; relating to: a license to teach based on reciprocity and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must issue an initial license to teach to an individual who holds a license to teach in good standing from another state if the individual taught under that license for at least one year. A license to teach issued based on these qualifications is known as a “license to teach based on reciprocity.” This bill requires DPI to also issue a license to teach based on reciprocity to an individual who holds a license to teach in good standing from another state if the individual taught in this state under a license or permit issued by DPI for at least two semesters and the school district or charter school where the applicant taught under that license or permit confirms that the applicant's teaching experience was successful.

This bill also changes a license to teach based on reciprocity from an initial license to a provisional license. Under the bill, DPI must issue a lifetime license to an individual who obtains a provisional license to teach based on reciprocity if the individual successfully completes six semesters of teaching experience, as defined by DPI. Under current law, DPI issues a lifetime license to an individual who holds a provisional license obtained based on other qualifications. Finally, the bill specifies that DPI must issue a provisional license to teach to any individual who holds an initial license to teach based on reciprocity on the date the bill becomes law.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB184,1 Section 1 . 118.193 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB184,2,5 118.193 (2) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (4m), (6) to (9), and (12) to (14), the department shall grant an initial issue a provisional license to teach for a term of 3 years to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:

SB184,2 Section 2 . 118.193 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 118.193 (2) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB184,2,9 118.193 (2) (b) (intro.) The individual taught for at least one any of the following:

SB184,2,10 1. One year under the license granted by another state.

SB184,3 Section 3 . 118.193 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB184,2,16 118.193 (2) (b) 2. Two semesters under a license or permit issued by the department. To qualify under this subdivision, the school district or charter school at which the individual taught under the license or permit issued by the department shall notify the department that the individual successfully completed 2 semesters of teaching experience.

SB184,4 Section 4 . 118.193 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

SB184,3,4 118.193 (5) The department shall issue a lifetime license to an individual who obtains a provisional license under sub. (2) if the individual successfully completes 6 semesters of teaching experience, as defined by the department by rule. An individual who does not successfully complete 6 semesters of teaching experience, as defined by the department by rule, within the 3-year term of a provisional license issued under sub. (2) may apply to renew the provisional license. There is no limit to the number of times an individual may renew a provisional license under this subsection.

SB184,5 Section 5 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB184,3,9 (1) The department of public instruction shall, subject to ss. 115.31 and 115.315, issue a provisional license to an individual who holds an initial teaching license issued under s. 118.193 that is current and valid on the effective date of this subsection.

SB184,6 Section 6 . Initial applicability.

SB184,3,13 (1) The treatment of ss. 118.193 (2) (intro.) and (b) 2. and the renumbering and amendment of s. 118.193 (2) (b) first apply to an application for a license to teach received by the department on the effective date of this subsection.

SB184,3,14 (End)