Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2054 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13934 MM-F
2	2	By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2054
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the authorization for and approval of certain nursing
10	10	programs offered by private postsecondary educational institutions
11	11	or for-profit entities.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Section 61.302, Education Code, is amended by
14	14	adding Subdivisions (12) and (13) to read as follows:
15	15	(12) "Professional degree" includes a Doctor of
16	16	Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental
17	17	Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris
18	18	Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).
19	19	(13) “Nursing program” means a program preparing a
20	20	student for licensure as a licensed vocational nurse or a program
21	21	leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of
22	22	Science in Nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a
23	23	Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
24	24	SECTION 2. Section 61.303, Education Code, is amended by
25	25	amending Subsection (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as
26	26	follows:
27	27	(c-1) The board may not approve the issuance of a
28	28	certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to grant a
29	29	professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this
30	30	state are applicable toward a professional degree except to the
31	31	extent allowed for an authorized institution operating under a
32	32	State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). [In this
33	33	subsection, "professional degree" includes Doctor of Medicine
34	34	(M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental Surgery
35	35	(D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris Doctor
36	36	(J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).]
37	37	(c-2) The board may not approve the issuance of a
38	38	certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to offer a
39	39	nursing program or grant a nursing degree or to represent that
40	40	credits earned in a nursing program in this state are applicable
41	41	toward a nursing degree except to the extent:
42	42	(1) allowed for an authorized institution operating
43	43	under a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA); or
44	44	(2) determined necessary by the board.
45	45	SECTION 3. Section 61.306(c-1), Education Code, is amended
46	46	to read as follows:
47	47	(c-1) The board may issue a certificate of authority for a
48	48	private postsecondary educational institution to grant a
49	49	professional degree, to offer a nursing program or grant a nursing
50	50	degree, or to represent that credits earned in this state are
51	51	applicable toward a professional or nursing degree only if the
52	52	board determines that:
53	53	(1) the capacity and ability of similar [professional
54	54	degree] programs at institutions of higher education and private or
55	55	independent institutions of higher education are insufficient to
56	56	meet the state's current market needs;
57	57	(2) the institution seeking the certificate of
58	58	authority:
59	59	(A) has the necessary faculty and other resources
60	60	to ensure student success; and
61	61	(B) is subject to and agrees to meet the same
62	62	standards for approval and all academic criteria applicable to
63	63	similar [professional degree] programs offered by institutions of
64	64	higher education and private or independent institutions of higher
65	65	education; and
66	66	(3) sufficient placements are available to students
67	67	for required field-based experience, such as clinicals or
68	68	clerkships, for the proposed program or [professional] degree.
69	69	SECTION 4. Section 61.306(d), Education Code, is repealed.
70	70	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.