83R21407 KSD-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 2099
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2099:
By: Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 2099
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to improving access to nursing education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as
follows:
(a) The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
composed of representatives of general academic teaching
institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level
students:
(1) shall adopt by rule:
(A) a common admission application form for use
by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to a general
academic teaching institution; and
(B) an electronic common admission application
form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to
an institution of higher education that admits freshman-level
students, other than a general academic teaching institution; [and]
(2) shall:
(A) determine whether the adoption of an
electronic common admission application form for use by a person
seeking admission to an undergraduate nursing education program at
an institution of higher education would be cost-effective for
nursing schools; and
(B) adopt such a form by rule if the adoption is
determined under Paragraph (A) to be cost-effective for nursing
schools; and
(3) may adopt by rule a printed format common
admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
a freshman student to an institution of higher education that
admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic
teaching institution.
(g-1) If an electronic common admission application form
for use by a person seeking admission to an undergraduate nursing
education program at an institution of higher education is adopted
under Subsection (a)(2)(B):
(1) the board must seek input from representatives of
undergraduate nursing education programs at institutions of higher
education in prescribing the form; and
(2) the form must include a link to information
regarding any available scholarship opportunities for
undergraduate nursing education degree students offered by
institutions of higher education.
SECTION 2. Section 61.026, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.026. COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The
chairman may appoint committees from the board's membership as the
chairman [he] or the board may find necessary from time to time.
The board may appoint advisory committees from outside its
membership as it may deem necessary.
(b) If the board directs an advisory committee to assist the
board in exercising its authority under Section 61.051(j) regarding
an off-campus course in nursing education, including clinical
coursework, the board may require the advisory committee to include
or consult with one or more career schools or colleges that are
authorized to offer degrees in this state and are located in the
area where the course is to be offered. In this subsection, "career
school or college" has the meaning assigned by Section 132.001.
SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall make an initial determination regarding whether adopting an
electronic common admission application form for undergraduate
nursing education programs would be cost-effective as required by
Section 51.762, Education Code, as amended by this Act, not later
than September 1, 2014.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.