By: Rios Ybarra, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 1325
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2009;
May 1, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 22, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 22, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the degrees awarded by the Texas State Technical
College System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 135.011, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 135.011. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter [section]:
(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the Texas
State Technical College System.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) "System" means the Texas State Technical College
System.
(4) "Faculty research" means research using the
system's facilities and equipment that is:
(A) consistent with the system's mission; and
(B) funded by private sources, competitively
acquired sources, or appropriated public funding.
(5) "Campus" means a residential unit of the system
that grants associate degrees and certificates.
(6) "Extension center" means a site, operating under
the administration of a campus, that has an extension program.
(7) "Extension program" includes credit and noncredit
instruction in technical-vocational education.
SECTION 2. Section 135.51, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 135.51. CERTIFICATES, DIPLOMAS, AND ASSOCIATE
DEGREES. (a) The board shall prescribe and award associate of
applied science degrees, certificates, and diplomas limited to
those appropriate to technical education.
(b) The board may offer and award an associate of science
degree in a field of study at Texas State Technical
College--Harlingen campus if the coordinating board determines
that the degree in that field of study:
(1) is appropriate to the role and mission of the
system; and
(2) meets the educational or workforce needs of the
region in which the campus is located.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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