Bill Text: TX HB48 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a single common course numbering system for and the transfer of course credit among public institutions of higher education in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-10-06 - Filed [HB48 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB48-Introduced.html
  88S30072 CXP-D
 
  By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 48
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a single common course numbering system for and the
  transfer of course credit among public institutions of higher
  education in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The board shall develop and implement a policy regarding
  [encourage] the transferability of [lower division] course credit
  among institutions of higher education.
         (b)  Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
  curriculum of not [no] less than 42 semester credit hours,
  including specific courses composing [comprising] the curriculum.
  The core curriculum shall be consistent with the single common
  course numbering system approved by the board under Section
  61.832(a) and with the statement, recommendations, and rules issued
  by the board. An institution may have a core curriculum of other
  than 42 semester credit hours only if approved by the board. The
  board by rule may approve a core curriculum of less [fewer] than 42
  semester credit hours for an associate degree program if the board
  determines that the approval would facilitate the award of a degree
  or transfer of credit consistent with this subchapter.
         (f)  If a student successfully completes a course at an
  institution of higher education for which a common number
  designation and course description are included in the single
  common course numbering system described by Section 61.832, that
  course may be transferred to any other institution of higher
  education that offers a course with the same common course number
  and must be substituted for the receiving institution's course.
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.826(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The board by rule shall adopt procedures to be followed
  by:
               (1)  institutions of higher education in resolving
  disputes concerning the transfer of [lower division] course credit;
  and
               (2)  the commissioner of higher education or the
  commissioner's designee in making a final determination concerning
  transfer of the course credit if the transfer is in dispute.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.830, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.830.  PUBLICATION OF GUIDELINES ADDRESSING TRANSFER
  PRACTICES. In its course catalogs and on its website, each
  institution of higher education shall publish guidelines
  addressing the practices of the institution regarding the transfer
  of course credit. In the guidelines, the institution must use 
  [identify a course by using] the single common course numbering
  system as required by Section 61.832 to identify each of its offered
  courses for which a common number designation and course
  description are included by the board in that system [approved by
  the board].
         SECTION 4.  Section 61.832, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.832.  COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM. (a) The board
  shall approve a single common course numbering system for
  [lower-division] courses to facilitate the transfer of [those]
  courses among institutions of higher education by promoting
  consistency in course designation and identification.
         (a-1)  The following types of courses are exempt from the
  single common course numbering system approved under Subsection
  (a):
               (1)  courses in career and technical education, except
  as provided by Section 61.8235;
               (2)  courses in applied performing arts;
               (3)  clinical coursework in health-related subject
  areas;
               (4)  skill-related courses in criminal justice-related
  subject areas;
               (5)  graduate courses; and
               (6)  special topics courses, including course credit
  received for completing an internship, an apprenticeship, a
  practicum, a thesis, a dissertation, or a course offered by a study
  abroad program.
         (b)  The board shall solicit input from institutions of
  higher education regarding the development of the single common
  course numbering system.
         (c)  Each institution of higher education shall:
               (1)  use the approved common course numbering system in
  the institution's guidelines regarding the transfer of course
  credit for each course for which a common number designation and
  course description are included by the board in that system; and
               (2)  include the applicable course numbers from the
  approved common course numbering system in its course catalogs and
  other course listings.
         (d)  The board may approve only a common course numbering
  system already in common use in this state by one or more
  institutions of higher education.
         (e) [(c)]  The board shall cooperate with institutions of
  higher education in any additional development or alteration of the
  common course numbering system approved under Subsection (a),
  including the taxonomy to be used, and in the development of rules
  for the administration and applicability of the system.
         (f)  Each institution of higher education must certify
  annually to the board the accuracy of the institution's
  identification, in its course catalogs and other course listings,
  of each course offered by the institution for which a common number
  designation and course description are included by the board in the
  common course numbering system. As part of the certification
  required by this subsection, the institution shall specify each of
  its offered courses for which a common number designation and
  course description are included in that system and each of its
  offered courses for which a common number designation and course
  description are not included in that system. The institution also
  shall include with its certification a current, publicly accessible
  Internet website address at which the institution publishes its
  guidelines regarding the transfer of course credit.
         (g)  The board may, based on the board's review of the
  information certified under Subsection (f), recommend corrective
  action to an institution's governing board if the institution fails
  to comply with the requirements of this section. In its next
  legislative appropriations request made to the legislature, the
  board shall identify each institution that fails to comply with the
  board's recommended corrective action.
         (h)  Not later than June 1, 2024, the board shall:
               (1)  approve a single common course numbering system as
  required by Subsection (a); and
               (2)  establish a timetable that requires institutions
  of higher education to phase in the inclusion of the applicable
  course numbers from the approved common course numbering system in
  their individual guidelines regarding the transfer of course credit
  and in their individual course numbering systems as required by
  this section so that each institution fully complies with this
  section for each course that is offered during the 2028-2029
  academic year or a subsequent academic year and for which a common
  number designation and course description are included by the board
  in that system.
         (h-1)  Subsection (h) and this subsection expire January 1,
  2030.
         [(d)  An institution of higher education shall include in its
  course listings the applicable course numbers from the common
  course numbering system approved by the board under this section.
  For good cause, the board may grant to an institution of higher
  education an exemption from the requirements of this subsection.]
         SECTION 5.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
  section, the change in law made by this Act applies beginning with
  the 2024-2025 academic year.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act in adding Sections
  61.832(f) and (g), Education Code, applies beginning with the
  2028-2029 academic year.
         SECTION 6.  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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.
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