Bill Text: TX HB22 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a public service requirement for undergraduate students, known as Service to Texas, at public institutions of higher education.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-06 - Left pending in committee [HB22 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB22-Introduced.html

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83R535 KJM-D
By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 22

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a public service requirement for
undergraduate students, known as Service to Texas, at public
institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.310 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.310. SERVICE TO TEXAS. (a) In this section,
"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003.
(b) To receive a baccalaureate degree or a certificate for
an undergraduate program requiring at least 60 semester credit
hours from an institution of higher education, a student must
perform at least 20 hours of unpaid public service while enrolled in
an institution of higher education in this state. The public
service required under this section is known as Service to Texas.
(c) Service to Texas must consist of activity for and under
the supervision of a nonprofit organization, governmental entity,
or other entity that benefits needy or deserving individuals or the
public, as determined by the institution the student attends.
(d) Each institution of higher education shall assign an
existing office to coordinate and monitor a Service to Texas
program to assist students to satisfy the public service
requirements of this section.
(e) Each institution of higher education, through its
Service to Texas program, shall develop a list of approved public
service organizations and entities for purposes of Subsection (c).
In developing and maintaining the list, an institution of higher
education shall:
(1) include on the list a broad variety of
organizations and entities that reflect diverse activities and
viewpoints; and
(2) permit a student to propose a specific
organization or entity for consideration for addition to the list.
(f) A student shall select one or more of the organizations
or entities listed as provided by Subsection (e) to supervise and
document the student's performance of the required public service.
(g) This section does not apply to a student who first
enrolls in an institution of higher education before September 1,
2014.
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, 2013.