84R26438 KJE-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 1611
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1611:
By: Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 1611
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the exemption from the assessment requirements of the
Texas Success Initiative for students who successfully complete
certain college preparatory courses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.3062, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (q-2) and adding Subsections (q-3) and (q-4) to
read as follows:
(q-2) A student who successfully completes a college
preparatory course under Section 28.014 is exempt from the
requirements of this section with respect to the content area of the
course, provided that the student satisfies the requirements under
Subsection (q-3). The exemption is effective for the two-year
period following the date the student graduates from high school.
[The commissioner of higher education by rule shall establish the
period for which an exemption under this subsection is valid.] The
exemption applies only at the institution of higher education that
partners with the school district in which the student is enrolled
to provide the course, except that the commissioner by rule may
determine the manner in which the exemption may be applied to
institutions of higher education other than the partnering
institution.
(q-3) A student receiving an exemption under Subsection
(q-2) must enroll in a college-level course in the exempted content
area during the student's first year of enrollment at an
institution of higher education occurring after the student
qualifies for the exemption. If the student earns a grade below a
"C" for the course, the institution shall advise the student of
non-course-based options for attaining college readiness, such as
tutoring or accelerated learning.
(q-4) The board shall:
(1) collect and analyze data regarding the
effectiveness of college preparatory courses provided under
Section 28.014 in assisting students to become ready to perform
college-level academic coursework, as measured by the rate at which
students receiving an exemption under Subsection (q-2)
successfully complete the course described by Subsection (q-3); and
(2) in November of each even-numbered year, submit a
report on the board's findings to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher
education, and each institution of higher education and school
district that offers a college preparatory course under Section
28.014.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies
beginning with the assessment of entering undergraduate students at
public institutions of higher education for the 2015 fall semester.
The assessment of an entering undergraduate student for an academic
term before that semester is covered by the law in effect before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
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, 2015.