Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13011, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 673, §1, is amended to read:

9. Targeted need area certificate; exception. The state board shall adopt rules that establish criteria under which a targeted need area certificate may be issued. This certificate may be issued only to a person holding a bachelor's degree and teaching in a teacher shortage area. The teacher shortage area is determined by the commissioner. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A. Any amendment to the original rules adopted pursuant to this subsection that increases the qualifications for a targeted need area certificate does not apply to a person who was issued a targeted need area certificate prior to or during the 2002-2003 school year under the original rules adopted pursuant to this subsection.

SUMMARY

This bill provides an exception from any amended rules adopted by the State Board of Education that increase the qualifications requirements for targeted need area certificates. Teachers who were issued targeted need area certificates to teach in teacher shortage areas prior to or during the 2002-2003 school year are exempt from any increase in the qualifications required by amended rules adopted by the State Board of Education for targeted need area certificates.