H.B. No. 2425
AN ACT
relating to engineering recruitment programs at public or private
institutions of higher education and to certain degree programs at
public junior colleges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.791(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The board shall establish and administer, using funds
appropriated for that purpose, a one-week summer program to take
place on the campus of each general academic teaching institution
or private or independent institution of higher education that
offers an engineering degree program. The summer program must be
designed for middle and high school students and to expose those
students to math, science, and engineering concepts that a student
in an engineering degree program may encounter.
SECTION 2. Sections 61.792(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The board shall establish and administer, using funds
appropriated for that purpose, scholarships for students pursuing a
degree in engineering at a general academic teaching institution or
a private or independent institution of higher education.
(b) To qualify for a scholarship under this section, a
student must:
(1) have graduated with a grade point average in the
top 20 percent of the student's high school graduating class;
(2) have graduated from high school with a grade point
average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent in
mathematics and science courses offered under the recommended or
advanced high school program under Section 28.025(a); and
(3) maintain an overall grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a four-point scale at the general academic teaching
institution or the private or independent institution of higher
education in which the student is enrolled.
SECTION 3. Section 130.0012, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
(k) The board shall conduct a study relating to the success
of baccalaureate degree programs offered under this section and to
the feasibility of expanding the offering of baccalaureate degrees
by public junior colleges. The study must consider the economic
viability of expanding the degree programs, the workforce needs
served by the degree programs for various areas of the state,
current and potential university course offerings, and other
methods for making baccalaureate degrees available, such as
distance education programs and multi-institutional teaching
centers. Not later than November 15, 2010, the board shall report
the results of the study to each standing committee of the
legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education. This
subsection expires January 1, 2011.
SECTION 4. (a) Sections 61.791 and 61.792, Education Code,
as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2009-2010 academic
year.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules for the administration of Sections 61.791 and 61.792,
Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after
this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may
adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
SECTION 5. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2425 was passed by the House on May
12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2425 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2425 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor