Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB708 Compare Versions

The same version is selected twice. Please select two different versions to compare.

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Rose (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) H.B. No. 708
2	2	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 18, 2009;
3	3	May 19, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
4	4	Education; May 25, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable
5	5	Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0;
6	6	May 25, 2009, sent to printer.)
7	7	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 708 By: Patrick
8	8
9	9
10	10	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
11	11	AN ACT
12	12	relating to higher education transfer practices, articulation
13	13	agreements, policies for dropping courses, and special-purpose
14	14	centers and to the formula funding for certain credit hours.
15	15	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
16	16	SECTION 1. Sections 51.907(a) and (b), Education Code, are
17	17	amended to read as follows:
18	18	(a) In this section, "governing board," [and] "institution
19	19	of higher education," and "public junior college" have the meanings
20	20	assigned by Section 61.003.
21	21	(b) This section applies only to an undergraduate student
22	22	who drops a course at an institution of higher education other than
23	23	a public junior college and only if:
24	24	(1) the student was able to drop the course without
25	25	receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty;
26	26	(2) the student's transcript indicates or will
27	27	indicate that the student was enrolled in the course; and
28	28	(3) the student is not dropping the course in order to
29	29	withdraw from the institution.
30	30	SECTION 2. (a) Section 61.0595(d), Education Code, is
31	31	amended to read as follows:
32	32	(d) The following are not counted for purposes of
33	33	determining whether the student has previously earned the number of
34	34	semester credit hours specified by Subsection (a):
35	35	(1) semester credit hours earned by the student before
36	36	receiving an associate or [a] baccalaureate degree that has
37	37	previously been awarded to the student;
38	38	(2) semester credit hours earned by the student by
39	39	examination or under any other procedure by which credit is earned
40	40	without registering for a course for which tuition is charged;
41	41	(3) credit for a remedial education course, a
42	42	technical course, a workforce education course funded according to
43	43	contact hours, or another course that does not count toward a degree
44	44	program at the institution; [and]
45	45	(4) semester credit hours earned by the student at a
46	46	private institution or an out-of-state institution; and
47	47	(5) semester credit hours earned by the student before
48	48	graduating from high school and used to satisfy high school
49	49	graduation requirements.
50	50	(b) The change in law made by this section to Section
51	51	61.0595, Education Code, applies beginning with the funding
52	52	recommendations made under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the
53	53	2011-2012 academic year.
54	54	SECTION 3. Section 61.821, Education Code, is amended by
55	55	amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (4) to read as
56	56	follows:
57	57	(1) "Core curriculum" means the curriculum in liberal
58	58	arts, humanities, and sciences and political, social, and cultural
59	59	history that all undergraduate students of an institution of higher
60	60	education are required to complete before receiving a bachelor's
61	61	[an academic undergraduate] degree.
62	62	(4) "Statewide articulated transfer curricula" means,
63	63	with respect to engineering disciplines, sets of courses, up to the
64	64	level of an associate's degree, that will satisfy the
65	65	lower-division requirements for bachelor's degrees in specific
66	66	engineering disciplines, including biomedical, chemical, civil,
67	67	computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, mechanical,
68	68	nuclear, and petroleum engineering at a general academic teaching
69	69	institution.
70	70	SECTION 4. Section 61.822(b), Education Code, is amended to
71	71	read as follows:
72	72	(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
73	73	curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including
74	74	specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum
75	75	shall be consistent with the common course numbering system
76	76	approved by the board and with the statement, recommendations, and
77	77	rules issued by the board. The minimum core curriculum requirement
78	78	for all academic associate's degrees shall be 42 semester credit
79	79	hours, except for programs designated under board-approved field of
80	80	study curricula or statewide articulated transfer curricula. An
81	81	institution may have a core curriculum of other than 42 semester
82	82	credit hours only if approved by the board.
83	83	SECTION 5. Section 61.830, Education Code, is amended to
84	84	read as follows:
85	85	Sec. 61.830. PUBLICATION OF TRANSFER GUIDELINES;
86	86	[ADDRESSING] TRANSFER PRACTICES. (a) In its course catalogs and
87	87	on its website, each institution of higher education shall publish:
88	88	(1) guidelines addressing the practices of the
89	89	institution regarding the transfer of course credit, under which
90	90	courses are identified[. In the guidelines, the institution must
91	91	identify a course by] using the common course numbering system
92	92	approved by the board; and
93	93	(2) in a format designated by the commissioner, all
94	94	institutional and statewide articulation agreements concerning the
95	95	transfer of courses.
96	96	(b) Each institution of higher education shall post on the
97	97	institution's website the dates for which each published
98	98	articulation agreement is valid and shall remove an expired
99	99	articulation agreement from the website not later than the 30th day
100	100	after the date of its expiration.
101	101	(c) The board shall adopt a standard format for the
102	102	publication of articulation agreements under this section. The
103	103	format must provide students with access to the requirements of
104	104	each articulation agreement to allow students enrolled in public
105	105	junior colleges, public state colleges, and public technical
106	106	institutes to plan and coordinate course schedules to meet those
107	107	requirements.
108	108	(d) The board shall provide links to each website described
109	109	under Subsection (a) in a prominent, easily accessible, and
110	110	identifiable location on the board's college information website.
111	111	(e) Not later than September 30 of each even-numbered year,
112	112	the commissioner shall make recommendations to each standing
113	113	committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
114	114	education to improve:
115	115	(1) the publication of transfer policies and
116	116	articulation agreements for the benefit of transfer students; and
117	117	(2) the level of participation of institutions of
118	118	higher education in articulation agreements for the purpose of
119	119	facilitating the transfer of students between institutions.
120	120	(f) A student who enrolls in a public junior college, public
121	121	state college, or public technical institute under an articulation
122	122	agreement is entitled to transfer to the general academic teaching
123	123	institution that is a party to the agreement not later than the
124	124	fourth anniversary of the date the student first enrolled in the
125	125	public junior college, public state college, or public technical
126	126	institute.
127	127	SECTION 6. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
128	128	amended by adding Section 61.833 to read as follows:
129	129	Sec. 61.833. STATEWIDE ARTICULATED TRANSFER CURRICULA FOR
130	130	ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall
131	131	establish a pilot program to develop and assess methods to increase
132	132	the number of students earning a baccalaureate degree in
133	133	engineering. The program shall:
134	134	(1) develop levels of academic attainment, including,
135	135	if feasible, standard associate's degrees:
136	136	(A) for specific engineering disciplines,
137	137	including biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical,
138	138	environmental, industrial, mechanical, nuclear, and petroleum
139	139	engineering; or
140	140	(B) that provide a foundation in any engineering
141	141	discipline;
142	142	(2) develop a well-defined process for transitioning
143	143	students who earn an associate's degree or other level of academic
144	144	attainment in an engineering discipline into an accredited
145	145	engineering degree program at a four-year institution; and
146	146	(3) establish methods to provide orientation and
147	147	advising to support students in choosing an engineering discipline
148	148	and in completing a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
149	149	(b) Not later than January 1, 2011, the board, with the
150	150	assistance of advisory committees equitably composed of
151	151	representatives of institutions of higher education, shall develop
152	152	statewide articulated transfer curricula for the purpose of
153	153	developing levels of academic attainment, including, if feasible,
154	154	standard associate's degrees, for engineering disciplines. Each
155	155	university system or independent institution of higher education
156	156	that offers a degree program for which a statewide articulated
157	157	transfer curriculum is proposed may nominate an individual to
158	158	participate on the advisory committee for that particular
159	159	engineering curriculum.
160	160	(c) The statewide articulated transfer curricula shall:
161	161	(1) have the same rigor and content as the equivalent
162	162	course work at an engineering program accredited by ABET,
163	163	Incorporated, that is offered at a general academic teaching
164	164	institution;
165	165	(2) minimize the time and course work required to
166	166	complete a baccalaureate degree in engineering; and
167	167	(3) be consistent with:
168	168	(A) the common course numbering system approved
169	169	by the board; and
170	170	(B) the recommendations and rules of the board.
171	171	(d) Each institution of higher education that offers an
172	172	undergraduate degree program in an engineering discipline may
173	173	participate in the pilot program by adopting the statewide
174	174	articulated transfer curriculum for that discipline.
175	175	(e) A student who meets institutional and engineering
176	176	degree program admission requirements and successfully completes
177	177	the statewide articulated transfer curriculum for an engineering
178	178	discipline developed by the board under the pilot program:
179	179	(1) may transfer the credit hours earned under that
180	180	curriculum and apply those credit hours to a participating
181	181	four-year institution's engineering degree program in a discipline
182	182	for which the curriculum was developed; and
183	183	(2) shall receive full academic credit toward that
184	184	engineering degree program for the credit hours transferred.
185	185	(f) A student who meets institutional and degree program
186	186	admission requirements and who transfers from one institution of
187	187	higher education to another without completing the statewide
188	188	articulated transfer curriculum developed by the board for that
189	189	engineering discipline shall receive full academic credit from a
190	190	participating institution for each of the courses that the student
191	191	has successfully completed in the statewide articulated transfer
192	192	curriculum. Following receipt of credit for each of those courses,
193	193	the student shall be required to satisfy any additional course
194	194	requirements in the degree program of the receiving institution.
195	195	(g) The board, with the assistance of advisory committees
196	196	established under this section, shall periodically evaluate
197	197	whether the statewide articulated transfer curricula for
198	198	engineering disciplines:
199	199	(1) effectively facilitate the transition of junior
200	200	college students and students of other two-year institutions of
201	201	higher education into accredited four-year engineering degree
202	202	programs; and
203	203	(2) have contributed to increasing the number of
204	204	transfer students who successfully complete baccalaureate degree
205	205	programs in engineering.
206	206	(h) Not later than January 1, 2011, the board shall report
207	207	to the legislature regarding the board's progress in developing and
208	208	evaluating statewide articulated transfer curricula for
209	209	engineering disciplines required by this section.
210	210	(i) This section expires January 1, 2017.
211	211	SECTION 7. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by
212	212	adding Subchapter I to read as follows:
213	213	SUBCHAPTER I. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HURRICANE CENTER FOR
214	214	INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
215	215	Sec. 111.121. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
216	216	(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the
217	217	University of Houston System.
218	218	(2) "Center" means the University of Houston Hurricane
219	219	Center for Innovative Technology (UHC-IT) established under this
220	220	subchapter.
221	221	Sec. 111.122. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The University of
222	222	Houston Hurricane Center for Innovative Technology is established
223	223	at the University of Houston.
224	224	(b) The organization, control, and management of the center
225	225	are vested in the board.
226	226	(c) The center shall be hosted by the university's College
227	227	of Engineering. Participation in the center's activities shall be
228	228	open to any faculty member of the university who is an active
229	229	researcher in the field of materials, nanotechnology, structural
230	230	engineering, designing of structures, or sensor technology, or in
231	231	another relevant field as determined by the university.
232	232	Sec. 111.123. PURPOSE. The center is created to:
233	233	(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education,
234	234	and training for the development of state-of-the-art products,
235	235	materials, systems, and technologies designed to mitigate the wind
236	236	and asserted structural damages in the built environment and
237	237	offshore structures caused by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region;
238	238	and
239	239	(2) develop protocols for the fast and efficient
240	240	recovery of the public and private sectors, including utilities,
241	241	hospitals, petrochemical industries, offshore platforms, and
242	242	municipalities and other local communities following a hurricane.
243	243	Sec. 111.124. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall:
244	244	(1) collaborate with appropriate federal, state, and
245	245	local agencies and private business or nonprofit entities as
246	246	necessary to coordinate efforts after a hurricane in the Gulf Coast
247	247	region;
248	248	(2) develop smart materials and devices for use in
249	249	hurricane protection and mitigation systems for structural
250	250	monitoring;
251	251	(3) develop anchor systems for window and door
252	252	screens, dwellings and other buildings, pipelines, and other
253	253	onshore and offshore structures to withstand hurricane wind damage;
254	254	(4) develop test facilities for evaluating the
255	255	performance of new products, materials, or techniques designed to
256	256	protect against hurricane wind damage;
257	257	(5) develop specifications and standards for products
258	258	used for protecting against hurricane wind damage;
259	259	(6) design buildings, houses, and other structures to
260	260	withstand hurricane wind damage; and
261	261	(7) provide hurricane-related educational programs,
262	262	seminars, conferences, and workshops to the community designed to
263	263	ensure safety, minimize loss of life, and mitigate the destruction
264	264	of property associated with hurricane wind damage.
265	265	Sec. 111.125. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The
266	266	University of Houston shall encourage public and private entities
267	267	to participate in or support the operation of the center and may
268	268	enter into an agreement with any public or private entity for that
269	269	purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide information,
270	270	services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange for the
271	271	entity's participation or support.
272	272	Sec. 111.126. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit,
273	273	accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
274	274	source for the purposes of the center.
275	275	Sec. 111.127. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel
276	276	for the center as necessary.
277	277	SECTION 8. (a) Each public institution of higher education
278	278	must satisfy the requirements of Section 61.830, Education Code, as
279	279	amended by this Act, not later than September 30, 2010.
280	280	(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
281	281	adopt the standard publication format required by Section
282	282	61.830(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
283	283	December 31, 2009.
284	284	SECTION 9. The changes in law made by this Act in amending
285	285	Sections 61.821 and 61.822, Education Code, and adding Section
286	286	61.833, Education Code, do not make an appropriation. A provision
287	287	in those sections that creates a new governmental program, creates
288	288	a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental entity is
289	289	not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the legislature has
290	290	not made a specific appropriation to implement the provision.
291	291	SECTION 10. This Act takes effect immediately if it
292	292	receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
293	293	house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
294	294	If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
295	295	effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
296	296	* * * * *