Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB165 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 165
	1	+	By: Blanco S.B. No. 165
	2	+	(Fierro)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5	7		relating to an exception to dropped course limitations at public
6	8		institutions of higher education for courses dropped during a
7	9		disaster that results in a bar or limit on in-person course
8	10		attendance.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Section 51.907, Education Code, is amended by
11	13		amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-2) to read as
12	14		follows:
13	15		(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
14	16		adopt rules under which an institution of higher education shall
15	17		permit a student to drop more courses under circumstances described
16	18		by Subsection (b) than the number of courses permitted to be dropped
17	19		under Subsection (c) or under a policy adopted under Subsection (d)
18	20		if [the student shows] good cause exists for dropping more than that
19	21		number, including:
20	22		(1) the student's [a] showing of:
21	23		(A) [(1)] a severe illness or other debilitating
22	24		condition that affects the student's ability to satisfactorily
23	25		complete a course;
24	26		(B) [(2)] the student's responsibility for the
25	27		care of a sick, injured, or needy person if the provision of care
26	28		affects the student's ability to satisfactorily complete a course;
27	29		(C) [(3)] the death of a person who:
28	30		(i) [(A)] is considered to be a member of
29	31		the student's family under a rule adopted under this subsection for
30	32		purposes of this paragraph [subdivision]; or
31	33		(ii) [(B)] is otherwise considered to have a
32	34		sufficiently close relationship to the student under a rule adopted
33	35		under this subsection that the person's death is considered to be a
34	36		showing of good cause; or
35	37		(D) [(4)] the active duty service as a member of
36	38		the Texas National Guard or the armed forces of the United States
37	39		of:
38	40		(i) [(A)] the student; or
39	41		(ii) [(B)] a person who is considered to be a
40	42		member of the student's family under a rule adopted under this
41	43		subsection for purposes of this paragraph; or
42	44		(2) a disaster declared by the governor under Section
43	45		418.014, Government Code, resulting in a bar or limit on in-person
44		-	course attendance at the institution of a duration that
45		-	significantly affects the student's ability to participate in
46		-	coursework, as determined in accordance with a rule adopted under
47		-	this subsection for purposes of this subdivision.
	46	+	course attendance at the institution [subdivision].
48	47		(e-2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
49	48		an institution of higher education may not count toward the number
50	49		of courses permitted to be dropped under Subsection (c) or a policy
51	50		adopted under Subsection (d) a course dropped by a student during
52	51		the 2020 spring semester or summer term or the 2020-2021 academic
53	52		year because of a bar or limit on in-person course attendance at the
54	53		institution during the applicable semester or term due to the
55	54		coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
56	55		SECTION 2. Section 51.907(e), Education Code, as amended by
57	56		this Act, applies beginning with the 2021 fall semester.
58	57		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
59	58		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
60	59		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
61	60		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
62	61		Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
63		-	______________________________ ______________________________
64		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
65		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 165 passed the Senate on
66		-	April 13, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
67		-	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 2021, by the
68		-	following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
69		-	______________________________
70		-	Secretary of the Senate
71		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 165 passed the House, with
72		-	amendment, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 101,
73		-	Nays 46, one present not voting.
74		-	______________________________
75		-	Chief Clerk of the House
76		-	Approved:
77		-	______________________________
78		-	Date
79		-	______________________________
80		-	Governor