By: Lucio S.B. No. 2189 (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2009; March 31, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; April 20, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 20, 2009, sent to printer.) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2189 By: Patrick 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. * * * * *