Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1328 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R11709 JRJ-D
2	2	By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 1328
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education
8	8	Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer
9	9	baccalaureate degree programs.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 130.0012, Education Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subsections (b-4), (e-1), and (g-1) and amending Subsections
13	13	(e) and (h) to read as follows:
14	14	(b-4) The coordinating board may authorize baccalaureate
15	15	degree programs under this section at one or more public junior
16	16	colleges that offer a degree program in the field of nursing and
17	17	have demonstrated a workforce need. Offering a baccalaureate
18	18	degree program under this subsection does not otherwise alter the
19	19	role and mission of a public junior college.
20	20	(e) In determining whether a public junior college may offer
21	21	[what] baccalaureate degree programs and what degree programs may
22	22	[are to] be offered, the coordinating board shall:
23	23	(1) apply the same criteria and standards the
24	24	coordinating board uses to approve baccalaureate degree programs at
25	25	general academic teaching institutions; and
26	26	(2) consider the following factors:
27	27	(A) [(1)] the workforce need for the degree
28	28	programs in the region served by the junior college;
29	29	(B) [(2)] how those degree programs would
30	30	complement the other programs and course offerings of the junior
31	31	college and whether the associate degree program offered by the
32	32	junior college in the same field has been successful;
33	33	(C) [(3)] whether those degree programs would
34	34	unnecessarily duplicate the degree programs offered by other
35	35	institutions of higher education; and
36	36	(D) [(4)] the ability of the junior college to
37	37	support the degree programs with student enrollment [program] and
38	38	the adequacy of the junior college's facilities, faculty,
39	39	administration, libraries, and other resources.
40	40	(e-1) A public junior college may offer a baccalaureate
41	41	degree program under this section only if its junior college
42	42	district meets the taxable property valuation amount established in
43	43	Section 130.032.
44	44	(g-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (g), a degree program
45	45	created under Subsection (b-4) may be funded only by a public junior
46	46	college's proportionate share of state appropriations under
47	47	Section 130.003, local funds, and private sources. This subsection
48	48	does not require the legislature to appropriate state funds to
49	49	support a degree program created under Subsection (b-4).
50	50	(h) Each biennium, each public junior college offering a
51	51	baccalaureate degree program under this section shall conduct a
52	52	review of each baccalaureate degree program offered and prepare a
53	53	[biennial] report on the operation, quality, and effectiveness of
54	54	those [the junior college's baccalaureate] degree programs. A [and
55	55	shall deliver a] copy of the report shall be delivered to the
56	56	coordinating board in the form and at the time determined by the
57	57	coordinating board.
58	58	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
59	59	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
60	60	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
61	61	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
62	62	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.