2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 132
BY SENATORS NEVERS AND THOMPSON AND REPRESENTATIVES ARMES,
BARROW, BERTHELOT, BROADWATER, HENRY BURNS,
CARMODY, CARTER, COX, EDWARDS, FANNIN, FOIL,
GUILLORY, HALL, HARRISON, HAZEL, HILL, HODGES,
HOFFMANN, HONORE, HUNTER, JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFERSON,
MIKE JOHNSON, ROBERT JOHNSON, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY
LANDRY, LEOPOLD, LORUSSO, MONTOUCET, JAY MORRIS,
NORTON, ORTEGO, PEARSON, PRICE, REYNOLDS,
SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER, SHADOIN, PATRICK WILLIAMS
AND WILLMOTT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:3161.1, 3165.2 and 3168(6), relative to the articulation and transfer of
3 postsecondary academic credit; to provide relative to reverse transfer agreements;
4 to provide relative to awarding academic and workforce education credit to veterans
5 for military education, training, or experience; to provide relative to the transfer of
6 certain academic credits earned by veterans and their spouses; to provide for the
7 responsibilities of the Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council; to provide for
8 reports; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:3161.1, 3165.2 and 3168(6) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §3161.1. Reverse Transfer Agreements
12 A. Four-year colleges and universities and community colleges are
13 authorized and encouraged to enter into reverse articulation or reverse transfer
14 agreements to facilitate the transfer of academic credits earned by a student
15 while enrolled in a four-year postsecondary institution back to a community
16 college for the purpose of enabling a student to complete the requirements for
17 an associate degree from the community college.
18 B. The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall establish
19 guidelines to govern the reverse transfer of academic credits between four-year
20 colleges and universities and community colleges.
ACT No. 233
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1 * * *
2 §3165.2. College credit for military service; spouses of veterans
3 A.(1) Each articulation and transfer agreement developed and
4 implemented in accordance with this Chapter shall maximize the number of
5 academic or workforce education credits awarded to veterans of the United
6 States Armed Forces for their military education, training, or experience and
7 provide for their seamless transfer from one public postsecondary education
8 institution to another.
9 (2) The council shall use the "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational
10 Experiences in the Armed Services" and the standards of the American Council
11 on Education to govern the award of academic or workforce credit for military
12 education, training, or experience.
13 B. Each public postsecondary education institution shall assist veterans
14 of the United States Armed Forces and their spouses in pursuing their
15 educational goals by providing expedited transcript analysis, prior learning
16 assessment, portfolio analysis, advising, and testing. At the request of an
17 entering student who is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, each public
18 postsecondary education institution shall evaluate any transcript of prior
19 earned postsecondary academic credit and accept the transfer of any credit
20 earned from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution, provided that the
21 credit aligns with the course and program requirements of the receiving
22 institution.
23 C.(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall coordinate
24 and oversee the development of a military articulation and transfer process that
25 shall be adhered to by all public postsecondary education institutions that will:
26 (a) Recognize and align military education, training, or experience with
27 the appropriate postsecondary academic or workforce coursework.
28 (b) Provide for the transfer of academic credit hours earned by a veteran
29 or the spouse of a veteran from a postsecondary education institution that offers
30 academic coursework to military personnel and their spouses, provided such
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1 institution is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body and the
2 credit to be transferred is aligned with the course and program requirements
3 of the receiving institution.
4 (2) In developing the military articulation and transfer process, the
5 council shall give proper consideration to the admission standards and role,
6 scope, and mission of each public postsecondary education institution.
7 D. Each public postsecondary education management board shall ensure
8 that any policy adopted pursuant to R.S. 17:3351(E) conforms to the provisions
9 of this Section.
10 E.(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall meet not
11 later than September 15, 2015, to begin the process of implementing the
12 provisions of this Section.
13 (2) The provisions of this Section shall be fully implemented not later
14 than the beginning of the Spring semester of the 2015-2016 academic year.
15 F. This Section shall not apply to a former member of the United States
16 Armed Forces who received a dishonorable discharge from military service but
17 shall apply to such a person's spouse.
18 * * *
19 §3168. Reporting
20 The Board of Regents shall submit a written report to the Senate and House
21 committees on education, not later than September thirtieth of each year, on the
22 status of statewide articulation and transfer of credit across all educational
23 institutions in Louisiana as provided in this Chapter. Such report shall, at a
24 minimum, include the following:
25 * * *
26 (6)(a) The number of academic or workforce education credits awarded
27 to veterans of the United States Armed Forces for their military education,
28 training, or experience.
29 (b) The number of academic credits earned by veterans and spouses of
30 veterans from a postsecondary education institution that are transferred to a
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1 public postsecondary education institution.
2 (c) The information required by this Paragraph shall be reported in
3 aggregate and by public postsecondary education institution.
4 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
5 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
6 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
7 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
8 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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