85R9932 JRJ-D
By: Faircloth H.B. No. 2637
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer
baccalaureate degree programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 130.0012, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (e) and adding Subsections
(b-4), (b-5), (b-6), and (g-1) to read as follows:
(a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may
[shall] authorize public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate
degree programs in the fields of applied science, [and] applied
technology, and nursing under this section. Offering a
baccalaureate degree program under this section does not otherwise
alter the role and mission of a public junior college.
(b) The coordinating board:
(1) shall authorize baccalaureate degree programs at
each public junior college that previously participated in a pilot
project to offer baccalaureate degree programs; and
(2) may authorize baccalaureate degree programs at one
or more public junior colleges that offer a degree program in the
field of nursing and have demonstrated a workforce need.
(b-4) The coordinating board shall establish a pilot
project to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of authorizing
not more than two baccalaureate degree programs, one in the field of
applied science or applied technology, and one in the field of
nursing at a public junior college with a main campus located on a
barrier island and at a public junior college with not more than
three main campuses located in a county with a population greater
than 3.3 million.
(b-5) Not later than January 1, 2019, the coordinating board
shall prepare a progress report on the pilot project established
under Subsection (b-4). Not later than January 1, 2021, the
coordinating board shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of
the pilot project, including any recommendations for legislative
action regarding the offering of baccalaureate degree programs in
the fields of applied science, applied technology, and nursing by a
public junior college. The coordinating board shall deliver a copy
of each report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of the
standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary
jurisdiction over higher education. Unless the authority to
continue offering a baccalaureate degree program in the fields of
applied science, applied technology, and nursing is continued by
the legislature, a public junior college may not:
(1) enroll a new student in a baccalaureate degree
program under the pilot project after the 2022 fall semester;
(2) offer junior-level or senior-level courses for
those degree programs after the 2025 fall semester, unless the
coordinating board authorizes the college to offer those courses;
or
(3) award a baccalaureate degree under the pilot
project after the 2025 fall semester, unless the coordinating board
approves the awarding of the degree.
(b-6) This subsection and Subsections (b-4) and (b-5)
expire on the first December 31 following the first regular
legislative session that occurs after the sixth anniversary of the
date a public junior college offering a degree program in the fields
of applied science, applied technology, and nursing under
Subsection (b-4) meets the accreditation requirements of
Subsection (c).
(e) In determining what baccalaureate degree programs are
to be offered, the coordinating board shall consider the following
factors:
(1) the workforce need for the degree programs in the
region served by the junior college;
(2) how those degree programs would complement the
other programs and course offerings of the junior college and
whether the associate degree program offered by the junior college
in the same field has been successful;
(3) whether those degree programs would unnecessarily
duplicate the degree programs offered by other institutions of
higher education or whether a partnership with other institutions
of higher education is possible; [and]
(4) the ability of the junior college to support the
program with student enrollment and the adequacy of the junior
college's facilities, faculty, administration, libraries, and
other resources; and
(5) whether the junior college meets the taxable
property valuation amount established in Section 130.032.
(g-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (g), a degree program
established under Subsection (b-4) may be funded solely by a public
junior college's proportionate share of state appropriations under
Section 130.003, local funds, and private sources. This subsection
expires January 1, 2022.
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, 2017.