Bill Text: TX HB1176 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to an optometry career program at the University of Houston.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-21 - Referred to Higher Education [HB1176 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB1176-Introduced.html
| 85R4803 JRJ-D | ||
| By: Alonzo | H.B. No. 1176 | |
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| relating to an optometry career program at the University of | ||
| Houston. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 111, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 111.43 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 111.43. OPTOMETRY CAREER PROGRAM. (a) The university | ||
| may operate a summer program that prepares highly qualified, | ||
| economically disadvantaged junior-level, senior-level, and | ||
| postbaccalaureate students from any public or private institution | ||
| of higher education for advanced studies and a career in the field | ||
| of optometry. The program may include: | ||
| (1) courses in improvement of study skills and | ||
| Optometry Admission Test preparation courses; | ||
| (2) a review of selected undergraduate academic | ||
| courses that are prerequisites for admission to advanced degree | ||
| programs in optometry; | ||
| (3) academic courses that are designed to familiarize | ||
| students with the course work in advanced degree programs in | ||
| optometry; | ||
| (4) clinical work; and | ||
| (5) extracurricular activities, including observing | ||
| professionals in the field of optometry. | ||
| (b) To the extent practicable, and consistent with the | ||
| purposes of the program, the university shall operate the program | ||
| in a manner that assists students in obtaining course credit for the | ||
| program from their respective institutions of higher education. | ||
| (c) The university shall: | ||
| (1) recruit eligible undergraduate or | ||
| postbaccalaureate students for admission to the program; | ||
| (2) establish an application process for admitting | ||
| eligible undergraduate or postbaccalaureate students to the | ||
| program; | ||
| (3) develop reasonable requirements for admission to | ||
| the program; | ||
| (4) monitor the implementation of the program; and | ||
| (5) assist in developing services, including career | ||
| counseling, to support and encourage the pursuit of advanced | ||
| studies and careers in the field of optometry. | ||
| (d) The university may solicit and accept gifts and grants | ||
| from any public or private source, including a corporation or other | ||
| entity, to fund a program operated as provided by this section. The | ||
| legislature may appropriate money for the purposes of this section. | ||
| SECTION 2. 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, 2017. | ||
