House committee advances interstate teacher-licensing compact after fiscal questions

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 2274, an interstate teacher certification compact, after a roll call produced 17 ayes and 1 no.

Representative Smith asked why the fiscal note showed nearly $300,000 in the first year and roughly $60,000 in each subsequent year. Perry Goral, chief of governmental relations at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, told the committee the first-year expense is primarily for setting up the information-technology systems needed for reciprocity. Ongoing costs, he said, reflect maintaining the software that processes out-of-state certification records and a separately assessed consortium fee; Goral offered to provide specific fee figures to the committee.

Chairman Lewis and other members framed the compact as a way to streamline reciprocity and increase the supply of classroom teachers in Missouri. During discussion the committee cited an approximate annual inflow of out-of-state certified teachers (about 1,200 was used as an illustrative figure in committee remarks), and members weighed that potential placement benefit against the upfront technology and membership costs.

By roll call, the committee voted HB 2274 'due pass' with 17 ayes and one no. The committee record shows Representative Smith as the lone recorded no vote. No further amendments or conditions were recorded in committee action.

The committee’s action sends HB 2274 to the next stage of consideration; DESE will provide the committee with requested details on the recurring consortium fee and any implementation timelines. The committee did not record additional formal instructions to staff or DESE in the hearing transcript.