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Governor signs measure creating the Guam Commission for Educator Certification, 11 other measures into law
May 9, 2008
Governor Felix P. Camacho this morning signed Bill No. 99 (LS), which establishes the Guam Commission for Educator Certification.
The measure, now Public Law 29-73, creates this commission, which provides a rigorous system of certification, professional development and evaluation. Its mission is to support improved student achievement, to enhance the quality of the Guam educator workforce and to increase student performance by setting standards for certification of educators.
"The schoolchildren of Guam deserve the highest standards of education," Governor Camacho said. "I want to thank the Legislature for passing my measure, which will demand the strictest standards for the people we entrust to teach the next generation."
Throughout the United States, the certification or licensure of educators is a function that occurs at the state level and not in the local school districts that employ educators. The Guam Public School System currently sets the standards for its own educators, whom the school system also hires. The Governor's measure will set island-wide standards GPSS must follow, giving parents a greater voice in the education of their children and ensuring accountability in the certification of teachers based on acceptable standards.
The commission will consist of seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. Membership will be composed of one classroom teacher, one administrator and one guidance counselor employed in a public school; two members who have a terminal degree in education; and two members appointed from the community at large.
Other measures signed into law
Governor Camacho also signed 11 other measures into law:
Bill No. 156 (EC), now P.L. 29-70, strengthens the reporting requirements of scrap metal dealers and enacts penalties for non-compliance;
Bill No. 277 (LS), now P.L. 29-71, approves the administrative rules and regulations for the Guam Board of Nurse Examiners;
Bill No. 12 (LS), now P.L. 29-72, amends the statute relative to receiving stolen property to include stolen non-ferrous and other salvageable metals;
Bill No. 95 (LS), now P.L. 29-74, aligns the Deinstitionalization of Status Offender Program with federal law. The law authorizes DYA to hold a juvenile found to have violated a valid court order in the youth detention facility;
Bill No. 161 (LS), now P.L. 29-75, amends a section of Guam law regarding the delivery of an arrestee to a judge;
Bill No. 205 (EC), now P.L. 29-76, extends the maximum limits of government liability coverage to private physicians who attend to house patients at the Guam Memorial Hospital when conducting follow-up visits at their private medical facility;
Bill No. 226 (LS), now P.L. 29-77, makes it a criminal offense to alter, tamper with, damage or destroy any electronic monitoring devise of convicted sex offenders;
Bill No. 243 (LS), now P.L. 29-78, broadens the qualifications for director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services;
Bill No. 247 (LS), now P.L. 29-79 authorizes government of Guam agencies to pay prior years' and current year obligations owed to the Guam Memorial Hospital from Fiscal Year 2008 operational appropriations and from carry-over and continuing operational appropriations authorized;
Bill No. 264 (EC), now P.L. 29-80, includes a government of Guam retiree in the negotiating team to advocate for health care benefits; and
Bill No. 223 (LS), now P.L. 29-81, amends a section of Guam law to protect expressions of sympathy or benevolent gestures by health professionals to patients or their families from being used against them in medical malpractice actions.
There are no other measures before the Governor for his consideration.
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