Bill Text: TX SB200 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education is entitled to an academic fresh start.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Vetoed) 2023-06-18 - Vetoed by the Governor [SB200 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB200-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 200

AN ACT
relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an
undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education
is entitled to an academic fresh start.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.931, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:
(c-1) In considering an applicant for admission under this
section, a public institution of higher education may choose to
disregard academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant
more recently than 10 years before the starting date of the semester
in which the applicant seeks to enroll, except the institution may
not disregard any credits or grades earned during the five-year
period preceding that date. An institution that chooses to
disregard course credits or grades earned during the additional
period permitted by this subsection must disregard all course
credits or grades earned during that period and may not award any
credit for those courses.
(c-2) Each public institution of higher education shall
adopt, post on the institution's Internet website, and submit to
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a policy regarding
the admissions made by the institution under this section,
including the period for which an applicant's course credits or
grades will be considered by the institution under the policy.
SECTION 2. Section 61.0595(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) For a student enrolled in a baccalaureate program under
Section 51.931, semester credit hours that were earned by the
student [10 or more years] before the date the student began
[begins] the new degree program under Section 51.931 and that were
disregarded under institution policy as described by that section
are not counted for purposes of determining whether the student has
previously earned the number of semester credit hours specified by
Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. Section 51.931, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with admissions to a public institution
of higher education for the 2023 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Section 61.0595(c), Education Code, as amended
by this Act, applies beginning with funding recommendations made
under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the state fiscal biennium
beginning September 1, 2025, for semester credit hours earned by
students enrolling in a baccalaureate degree program at a public
institution of higher education under Section 51.931, Education
Code, as amended by this Act, for the 2023 fall semester or a
subsequent semester or term. Funding recommendations for semester
credit hours earned by a student who enrolled in a baccalaureate
degree program at a public institution of higher education under
Section 51.931, Education Code, as amended by this Act, before the
2023 fall semester are governed by the law in effect immediately
before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. 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, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 200 passed the Senate on
April 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 200 passed the House on
May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 21,
one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor