82R29101 JRJ-D
By: Patrick, et al. S.B. No. 945
(Branch)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 945: No.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing a lower-division institution of higher
education to award an associate degree to a student enrolled in a
four-year public institution of higher education who previously
attended the lower-division institution.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.833 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.833. CREDIT TRANSFER FOR ASSOCIATE DEGREE. (a) In
this section, "lower-division institution of higher education"
means a public junior college, public state college, or public
technical institute.
(b) This section applies to a student enrolled in a general
academic teaching institution who:
(1) transferred to the institution from or previously
attended a lower-division institution of higher education;
(2) earned at least 30 credit hours for course work
successfully completed at the lower-division institution of higher
education; and
(3) has earned a cumulative total of at least 90 credit
hours for course work successfully completed.
(c) As soon as practicable after a student who is enrolled
in a general academic teaching institution has met the criteria
established by Subsection (b)(3), the institution by e-mail or
other reasonable method shall request authorization from the
student for the institution to release the student's transcript to
the lower-division institution of higher education that the student
previously attended for the purpose of determining whether the
student has earned the credits required for an associate degree
awarded by the lower-division institution of higher education. On
receipt of a student's authorization under this subsection, the
general academic teaching institution shall release the student's
transcript to the lower-division institution of higher education.
(d) After receiving a student transcript from a general
academic teaching institution under Subsection (c), a
lower-division institution of higher education shall review the
transcript and, if the lower-division institution of higher
education determines the student has earned the credits required to
receive an associate degree awarded by the lower-division
institution of higher education, may award the student the degree.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
student who not earlier than the 2011 fall semester transfers to or
otherwise initially enrolls in a general academic teaching
institution after attending a lower-division institution of higher
education.
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, 2011.