83R8382 KEL-F
By: Zerwas H.B. No. 2656
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limiting the authority of certain foreign private
postsecondary educational institutions to grant or award
professional degrees or offer courses toward those degrees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.3062 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.3062. LIMITATION ON CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY FOR
FOREIGN INSTITUTION OFFERING PROFESSIONAL DEGREES. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the board
may not issue a certificate of authority allowing a private
postsecondary educational institution to grant or award a
professional degree, offer courses toward a professional degree, or
make any claims regarding a student's ability to apply course
credits from the institution toward a professional degree if:
(1) the institution is incorporated or otherwise
formally organized outside the United States or has its principal
office or primary educational facilities outside the United States;
and
(2) any education-related activities of the
institution in this state would impair the availability of clinical
positions, internships, or other professional learning
opportunities to graduates of other professional schools in this
state.
(b) In this section, "professional degree" includes the
following degrees:
(1) Doctor of Medicine (MD);
(2) Doctor of Osteopathy (DO);
(3) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS);
(4) Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM);
(5) Juris Doctor (JD); or
(6) Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
SECTION 2. 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, 2013.