By: Canales, Lozano, Longoria, Guerra, H.B. No. 2937
Lucio III
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a pilot program under which a
licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to public high
school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0091 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0091. MEDICAL DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
agency shall develop and implement a pilot program under which a
licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to high school
students enrolled in a school district in partnership with the
district.
(b) The agency shall select up to three licensed hospitals
to participate in the pilot program. Each hospital selected must be
accredited by The Joint Commission and:
(1) have been issued:
(A) a certificate of approval to offer a program
of instruction by the Texas Workforce Commission under Subchapter
C, Chapter 132; or
(B) a certificate of authority to award a degree
for a program of study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board under Subchapter G, Chapter 61; or
(2) be accredited to offer a degree program by a
recognized accrediting agency, as that term is defined by Section
61.003.
(c) A licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b):
(1) may offer under the pilot program only dual credit
courses that are in the curriculum of the hospital's authorized
program of instruction or study or accredited degree program, as
applicable; and
(2) subject to Subdivision (1) and Subsection (d),
shall determine the content of each dual credit course offered
under the pilot program.
(d) A licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b) must
design the dual credit courses offered under the pilot program to
enable students to earn a variety of certifications, certificates,
and degrees. The available certifications, certificates, and
degrees must be selected based on:
(1) the needs of the hospital;
(2) the terms of the hospital's agreements with
partnering school districts to provide the dual credit courses
under the pilot program; and
(3) the goal of preparing students for employment in
the health care field.
(e) A student enrolled in a dual credit course offered under
the pilot program is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation
School Program for the time spent by the student on that course, in
accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner.
(f) A student may not be charged for tuition, fees, or
required textbooks or other instructional materials for a dual
credit course offered under the pilot program. The school district
in which the student is enrolled is responsible for the cost of the
student's tuition, fees, or required textbooks or other
instructional materials for that course to the extent that those
amounts are not waived by the licensed hospital offering the
course.
(g) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
school year.
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, 2017.