Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB25 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 25
	1	+	86R33574 KJE-D
	2	+	By: West, et al. S.B. No. 25
	3	+	(Turner of Tarrant, Stucky, Howard, Frullo, Walle, et al.)
	4	+	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 25: No.
2	5
3	6
	7	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	8		AN ACT
5	9		relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress,
6	10		and timely graduation of students in public higher education.
7	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	12		SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
9	13		amended by adding Sections 51.400, 51.4033, and 51.4034 to read as
10	14		follows:
11	15		Sec. 51.400. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
12	16		(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
13	17		Education Coordinating Board.
14	18		(2) "General academic teaching institution,"
15	19		"institution of higher education," and "public junior college" have
16	20		the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
17	21		Sec. 51.4033. REPORT OF NONTRANSFERABLE CREDIT. (a) Not
18	22		later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by the
19	23		coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution
20	24		shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a
21	25		report describing any courses in the Lower-Division Academic Course
22	26		Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board for
23	27		which a student who transfers to the institution from another
24	28		institution of higher education is not granted:
25	29		(1) academic credit at the receiving institution; or
26	30		(2) if the student has declared a major and has not
27	31		changed majors, academic credit toward the student's major at the
28	32		receiving institution.
29	33		(b) A report required by this section must indicate:
30	34		(1) the course name and type;
31	35		(2) which institution of higher education provided
32	36		academic credit for the course; and
33	37		(3) the reason why the receiving institution did not
34	38		grant academic credit for the course as described by Subsection
35	39		(a).
36	40		Sec. 51.4034. REPORT OF COURSES TAKEN AT JUNIOR COLLEGES.
37	41		(a) Not later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed
38	42		by the coordinating board, each public junior college shall provide
39	43		to the coordinating board and the legislature a report on courses
40	44		taken by students who, during the preceding academic year,
41	45		transferred to a general academic teaching institution or earned an
42	46		associate degree at the college.
43	47		(b) A report required by this section must include the total
44	48		number of:
45	49		(1) courses attempted and completed at the college,
46	50		including the total number of semester credit hours for those
47	51		courses, disaggregated by whether the course is in:
48	52		(A) the Workforce Education Course Manual or its
49	53		successor adopted by the coordinating board; or
50	54		(B) the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide
51	55		Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board;
52	56		(2) courses attempted and completed at the college
53	57		that are not in the recommended core curriculum developed by the
54	58		coordinating board under Section 61.822; and
55	59		(3) dual credit courses, including courses for joint
56	60		high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008,
57	61		attempted and completed at the college.
58	62		SECTION 2. Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
59	63		adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
60	64		(j) In adopting a form under this section, the board shall
61	65		ensure that an applicant may indicate on the form the applicant's
62	66		consent to an institution of higher education to which the
63	67		applicant submits an application for admission to a particular
64	68		degree program using the form to, if the institution denies the
65	69		applicant admission to that degree program, provide the applicant's
66	70		application to other institutions of higher education that offer
67	71		the degree program.
68	72		SECTION 3. Section 51.9685(a)(2), Education Code, is
69	73		amended to read as follows:
70	74		(2) "Institution of higher education" has [and "public
71	75		junior college" have] the meaning [meanings] assigned by Section
72	76		61.003.
73	77		SECTION 4. Section 51.9685, Education Code, is amended by
74	78		amending Subsections (b), (c), and (g) and adding Subsection (c-2)
75	79		to read as follows:
76	80		(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each
77	81		student enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an
78	82		institution of higher education shall file a degree plan with the
79	83		institution after the 12th class day but before [not later than] the
80	84		end of the [second regular] semester or term immediately following
81	85		the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total
82	86		of 30 [45] or more semester credit hours for coursework
83	87		successfully completed by the student, including transfer courses,
84	88		international baccalaureate courses, dual credit courses, and any
85	89		other course for which the institution the student attends has
86	90		awarded the student college course credit, including course credit
87	91		awarded by examination.
88	92		(c) A student to whom Subsection (b) [this section] applies
89	93		who begins the student's first semester or term at an institution of
90	94		higher education with 30 [45] or more semester credit hours of
91	95		course credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a
92	96		degree plan with the institution after the 12th class day but before
93	97		[not later than] the end of that [the student's second regular]
94	98		semester or term [at the institution].
95	99		(c-2) A student enrolled in a dual credit course at an
96	100		institution of higher education and to whom Subsection (b) does not
97	101		apply shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than:
98	102		(1) the end of the second regular semester or term
99	103		immediately following the semester or term in which the student
100	104		earned a cumulative total of 15 or more semester credit hours of
101	105		course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the
102	106		student; or
103	107		(2) if the student begins the student's first semester
104	108		or term at the institution with 15 or more semester credit hours of
105	109		course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the
106	110		student, the end of the student's second regular semester or term at
107	111		the institution.
108	112		(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
109	113		consultation with institutions of higher education, shall [may]
110	114		adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section,
111	115		including rules to ensure compliance with this section. In
112	116		adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the
113	117		negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
114	118		Code.
115	119		SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
116	120		amended by adding Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853 to read as
117	121		follows:
118	122		Sec. 51.96852. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) In this
119	123		section:
120	124		(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
121	125		Education Coordinating Board.
122	126		(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
123	127		assigned by Section 61.003.
124	128		(b) Each institution of higher education shall develop at
125	129		least one recommended course sequence for each undergraduate
126	130		certificate or degree program offered by the institution. Each
127	131		recommended course sequence must:
128	132		(1) identify all required lower-division courses for
129	133		the applicable certificate or degree program;
130	134		(2) include for each course, if applicable:
131	135		(A) the course number or course equivalent under
132	136		the common course numbering system approved by the coordinating
133	137		board under Section 61.832; and
134	138		(B) the course equivalent in the Lower-Division
135	139		Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the
136	140		coordinating board;
137	141		(3) be designed to enable a full-time student to
138	142		obtain a certificate or degree, as applicable, within:
139	143		(A) for a 60-hour degree or certificate program,
140	144		two years; or
141	145		(B) for a 120-hour degree program, four years;
142	146		and
143	147		(4) include a specific sequence in which courses
144	148		should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program
145	149		within the time frame described by Subdivision (3).
146	150		(c) Each institution of higher education shall:
147	151		(1) include the recommended course sequences
148	152		developed under this section in the institution's course catalog
149	153		and on the institution's Internet website; and
150	154		(2) submit the recommended course sequences developed
151	155		under this section to the coordinating board as provided by
152	156		coordinating board rule.
153	157		(d) The coordinating board, in consultation with
154	158		institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules as necessary
155	159		for the administration of this section. In adopting those rules,
156	160		the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking
157	161		procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.
158	162		Sec. 51.96853. TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION
159	163		INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS.
160	164		(a) In this section:
161	165		(1) "Articulation agreement" means a formal written
162	166		agreement between a lower-division institution of higher education
163	167		and a general academic teaching institution identifying courses
164	168		offered by the lower-division institution that must be accepted for
165	169		credit toward specific course requirements at the general academic
166	170		teaching institution.
167		-	(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
168		-	meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
	171	+	(2) "General academic teaching institution" and
	172	+	"institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by
	173	+	Section 61.003.
169	174		(3) "Lower-division institution of higher education"
170	175		means a public junior college, public state college, or public
171	176		technical institute, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003.
172	177		(b) Each general academic teaching institution may enter
173	178		into an articulation agreement with a lower-division institution of
174	179		higher education for a certificate or degree program for which
175	180		students transferring from the lower-division institution to the
176	181		general academic teaching institution receive transfer credit.
177	182		(c) An articulation agreement entered into under Subsection
178	183		(b) on or after September 1, 2019, may use field of study curricula
179	184		developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
180	185		Section 61.823.
181	186		(d) A general academic teaching institution may extend an
182	187		existing articulation agreement entered into under Subsection (b)
183	188		to another lower-division institution of higher education with
184	189		respect to the transfer of courses from that lower-division
185	190		institution of higher education to the general academic teaching
186	191		institution, on request by that lower-division institution of
187	192		higher education.
188	193		(e) An articulation agreement established under this
189	194		section may enable a transfer student to receive up to 60 semester
190	195		credit hours for courses completed at the lower-division
191	196		institution of higher education.
192	197		(f) A general academic teaching institution's participation
193	198		in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the
194	199		institution's admissions policies.
195	200		SECTION 6. Section 51.9715, Education Code, is amended by
196	201		adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
197	202		follows:
198	203		(a-1) An institution of higher education, or a school
199	204		district that offers international baccalaureate courses, dual
200	205		credit courses, or any other course for which an institution of
201	206		higher education may award students enrolled at the district
202	207		college course credit, including course credit awarded by
203	208		examination, may release student information to an institution of
204	209		higher education for purposes of transferring course credit to that
205	210		institution or enabling the awarding of course credit by that
206	211		institution, in accordance with federal law regarding the
207	212		confidentiality of student information, including the Family
208	213		Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section
209	214		1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student
210	215		information.
211	216		(b) An institution of higher education or school district
212	217		may release student information in accordance with Subsection (a)
213	218		or (a-1), as applicable, through:
214	219		(1) the National Student Clearinghouse; or
215	220		(2) a similar [national] electronic data sharing and
216	221		exchange platform operated by an agent of the institution or
217	222		district that meets nationally accepted standards, conventions,
218	223		and practices.
219	224		SECTION 7. Section 61.059(p), Education Code, is amended to
220	225		read as follows:
221	226		(p) In its instruction and operations formula applicable to
222	227		an institution of higher education, the board may not include any
223	228		semester credit hours earned for dual course credit by a high school
224	229		student for high school and college credit at the institution
225	230		unless those credit hours are earned through any of the following:
226	231		(1) a course in the core curriculum of the institution
227	232		providing course credit;
228	233		(2) a course offered by the institution providing
229	234		course credit in:
230	235		(A) a field of study curriculum developed by the
231	236		board under Section 61.823; or
232	237		(B) a program of study curriculum established by
233	238		the board under Section 61.8235;
234	239		(3) a career and technical education course that
235	240		applies to any certificate or associate's degree offered by the
236	241		institution providing course credit; or
237	242		(4) [(3)] a foreign language course.
238		-	SECTION 8. Section 61.821, Education Code, is amended by
239		-	adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
240		-	(4) "Meta major" means a collection of programs of
241		-	study or academic disciplines that share common foundational
242		-	skills.
243		-	SECTION 9. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
	243	+	SECTION 8. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
244	244		amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows:
245		-	Sec. 61.8221. STUDY AND REPORT ON CORE CURRICULUM.
246		-	(a) The board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to
247		-	the legislature regarding the feasibility of implementing
248		-	statewide meta majors for institutions of higher education. The
249		-	board shall consider meta majors in the following academic
250		-	disciplines:
251		-	(1) arts, humanities, communications, and design;
252		-	(2) business;
253		-	(3) education;
254		-	(4) health sciences;
255		-	(5) industry, manufacturing, and construction;
256		-	(6) public safety;
257		-	(7) science, technology, engineering, and
258		-	mathematics; and
259		-	(8) social and behavioral sciences and human services.
	245	+	Sec. 61.8221. STUDY AND REPORT ON CORE CURRICULUM. (a) The
	246	+	board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the
	247	+	legislature regarding the feasibility of implementing statewide
	248	+	meta majors for institutions of higher education.
260	249		(b) The board shall establish an advisory committee to
261	250		assist the board in completing the board's duties under this
262	251		section and provide the board with subject matter expertise and
263	252		analysis. The advisory committee consists of the following members
264		-	appointed by the board ~~in equal numbers~~:
	253	+	appointed by the board:
265	254		(1) representatives of public junior colleges
266	255		designated by the applicable college to represent the college on
267	256		the advisory committee; and
268	257		(2) representatives of general academic teaching
269	258		institutions designated by the applicable institution to represent
270	259		the institution on the advisory committee.
271	260		(c) A majority of members appointed to the advisory
272	261		committee under Subsection (b)(2) must be representatives of a
273	262		general academic teaching institution at which at least 25 percent
274	263		of students enrolled at the institution for the 2018 fall semester
275	264		were classified as transfer students.
276	265		(d) In appointing members to the advisory committee under
277	266		Subsection (b), the board shall, to the greatest extent
278	267		practicable, ensure that the membership of the advisory committee
279	268		is balanced with respect to:
280	269		(1) institutional representation, including:
281	270		(A) the regions of the state;
282	271		(B) the mission type of the general academic
283	272		teaching institution or public junior college;
284	273		(C) university system affiliation, as
285	274		applicable;
286	275		(D) student enrollment; and
287	276		(E) institutional groupings under the board's
288	277		higher education accountability system;
289	278		(2) representation of faculty and administrators at
290	279		general academic teaching institutions or public junior colleges;
291	280		(3) representation of academic disciplines; and
292	281		(4) any other factors the board determines relevant.
293	282		(e) The advisory committee shall study and make
294	283		recommendations to the board regarding the effectiveness of the
295	284		requirements regarding the transfer of course credit between
296	285		institutions of higher education for courses in the core curriculum
297	286		under Section 61.822 in supporting more efficient undergraduate
298	287		transfer between institutions of higher education. The study and
299	288		recommendations must include an analysis of:
300	289		(1) the efficacy of dividing the recommended core
301	290		curriculum for each meta major into a general academic core
302	291		curriculum and an academic discipline core curriculum and, if
303	292		determined to be efficacious, the recommended number of semester
304	293		credit hours for each component of the recommended core curriculum
305	294		for each meta major;
306	295		(2) methods to ensure that courses completed in the
307	296		general academic core curriculum and academic discipline core
308	297		curriculum transfer between institutions of higher education for
309	298		course credit applied toward a student's major at the receiving
310	299		institution; and
311	300		(3) the potential inclusion of courses in the field of
312	301		study curricula adopted by the board under Section 61.823 in the
313	302		recommended core curriculum adopted by the board under Section
314	303		61.822.
315		-	(f) Each quarter ending before November 1, 2020, the
316		-	~~advisory committee~~ shall submit to the chairs of the standing
317		-	~~legislative committees~~ with primary jurisdiction over higher
318		-	~~education a report on the advisory committee~~'s progress on the
319		-	~~study and recommendations required under~~ Subsection (e).
	304	+	(f) Each quarter ending before November 1, 2020, the board
	305	+	shall submit to the chairs of the standing legislative committees
	306	+	with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the
	307	+	board's progress on the study and recommendations required under
	308	+	Subsection (a).
320	309		(g) Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit
321	310		to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
322	311		representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
323	312		primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the results
324	313		of the study conducted under Subsection (a) and any recommendations
325	314		for legislative or other action.
326	315		(h) This section expires September 1, 2021.
327		-	SECTION 10. Section 61.827, Education Code, is amended to
	316	+	SECTION 9. Section 61.827, Education Code, is amended to
328	317		read as follows:
329	318		Sec. 61.827. RULES. (a) The board is authorized to adopt
330	319		rules implementing the provisions of this subchapter.
331	320		(b) In adopting rules regarding the recommended core
332	321		curriculum developed under Section 61.822, the board shall use the
333	322		negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
334	323		Code.
335		-	SECTION 11. Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended
	324	+	SECTION 10. Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended
336	325		to read as follows:
337	326		(c) In complying with the requirements regarding the filing
338	327		of a degree plan under [Notwithstanding] Section 51.9685, [before
339	328		the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following
340	329		the semester or term in which] a student enrolled [successfully
341	330		completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for
342	331		coursework] in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree
343	332		program established under this section[, the student] must meet
344	333		with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan[, as defined by
345	334		Section 51.9685(a)(1),] that:
346	335		(1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required
347	336		for the completion of the degree program; and
348	337		(2) emphasizes:
349	338		(A) the student's transition to a particular
350	339		four-year college or university that the student chooses; and
351	340		(B) preparations for the student's intended
352	341		field of study or major at the four-year college or university.
353		-	SECTION 12. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
	342	+	SECTION 11. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
354	343		repealed.
355		-	SECTION 13. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
	344	+	SECTION 12. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
356	345		this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
357	346		academic year.
358	347		(b) Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853, Education Code, as
359	348		added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic
360	349		year.
361		-	SECTION 14. Each public institution of higher education
	350	+	SECTION 13. Each public institution of higher education
362	351		required to submit a report under Section 51.4033 or 51.4034,
363	352		Education Code, as added by this Act, shall submit the first report
364	353		not later than March 1, 2021.
365		-	SECTION 15. This Act takes effect immediately if it
	354	+	SECTION 14. This Act takes effect immediately if it
366	355		receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
367	356		house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
368	357		If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
369	358		effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
370		-	______________________________ ______________________________
371		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
372		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the Senate on
373		-	April 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
374		-	the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 23, 2019, by the
375		-	following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
376		-	______________________________
377		-	Secretary of the Senate
378		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the House, with
379		-	amendments, on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
380		-	Nays 0, two present not voting.
381		-	______________________________
382		-	Chief Clerk of the House
383		-	Approved:
384		-	______________________________
385		-	Date
386		-	______________________________
387		-	Governor