By: Seliger, et al. S.B. No. 497
(Branch)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the number of semester credit hours required to earn an
associate degree at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.05151 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.05151. SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ASSOCIATE
DEGREE. (a) To earn an associate degree, a student may not be
required by an institution of higher education to complete more
than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the
degree by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its
successor unless the institution determines that there is a
compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional
semester credit hours for the degree.
(b) The board may review one or more of an institution's
associate degree programs to ensure compliance with this section.
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an associate degree
awarded by an institution to a student enrolled in the institution
before the 2015 fall semester. This subsection does not prohibit
the institution from reducing the number of semester credit hours
the student must complete to receive the degree.
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.