H.B. No. 1992
AN ACT
relating to the granting of undergraduate course credit by advanced
placement examination at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.968, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) In establishing the minimum required score on an
Advanced Placement examination for granting course credit for a
particular lower-division course under Subsection (c), an
institution of higher education may not require a score of more than
three unless the institution's chief academic officer determines,
based on evidence, that a higher score on the examination is
necessary to indicate a student is sufficiently prepared to be
successful in a related, more advanced course for which the
lower-division course is a prerequisite.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0518 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0518. STUDY ON UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT FOR
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS. (a) In this section, "Advanced
Placement examination" has the meaning assigned by Section 51.968.
(b) The board, in consultation with institutions of higher
education, the board's Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee,
and other interested parties, shall conduct a study on the
performance of undergraduate students at institutions of higher
education who receive undergraduate course credit for achieving
required scores on one or more Advanced Placement examinations.
(c) The study must compare the academic performance,
retention rates, and graduation rates at institutions of higher
education of students who complete a lower-division course at an
institution and students who receive credit for that course for a
score of three or more on an Advanced Placement examination,
disaggregated by score.
(d) Each institution of higher education shall submit to the
board any data requested by the board as necessary for the board to
carry out its duties under this section.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2017, the board shall submit
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
primary jurisdiction over higher education a progress report that
examines the academic performance at institutions of higher
education of students who received undergraduate course credit for
a score of three on one or more Advanced Placement examinations and
any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
(f) Not later than January 1, 2019, the board shall submit
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
primary jurisdiction over higher education a report regarding the
results of the study conducted under this section and any
recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
(g) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section in a manner that ensures compliance with federal law
regarding confidentiality of student educational information,
including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20
U.S.C. Section 1232g).
(h) This section expires September 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. Section 51.968(c-1), Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies to entering freshman students at institutions of
higher education beginning with the 2016 fall semester.
SECTION 4. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1992 was passed by the House on April
16, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 131, Nays 10, 3 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1992 on May 21, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 10,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1992 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor