Bill Text: TX SB1296 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the filing of a degree plan by students at public institutions of higher education.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1296 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1296-Introduced.html

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86R3613 KJE-F
By: Powell S.B. No. 1296

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the filing of a degree plan by students at public
institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.9685(a)(2), Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Institution of higher education" has [and "public
junior college" have] the meaning [meanings] assigned by Section
61.003.
SECTION 2. Sections 51.9685(b), (c), and (g), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each
student enrolled at an institution of higher education in an
associate or bachelor's degree program or a course for joint high
school and junior college credit under Section 130.008 [at an
institution of higher education] shall file a degree plan with the
institution not later than the first day of the [end of the second]
regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term
in which the student earned a cumulative total of 30 [45] or more
semester credit hours for coursework successfully completed by the
student, including transfer courses, international baccalaureate
courses, dual credit courses, and any other course for which the
institution the student attends has awarded the student college
course credit, including course credit awarded by examination.
(c) A student to whom this section applies who begins the
student's first semester or term at an institution of higher
education with 30 [45] or more semester credit hours of course
credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a degree
plan with the institution not later than the 12th class day [end] of
that [the student's second regular] semester or term [at the
institution].
(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
consultation with institutions of higher education, shall [may]
adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section,
including rules to ensure compliance with this section.
SECTION 3. Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) In complying with the requirements regarding the filing
of a degree plan under [Notwithstanding] Section 51.9685, [before
the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following
the semester or term in which] a student enrolled [successfully
completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for
coursework] in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree
program established under this section [, the student] must meet
with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan [, as defined by
Section 51.9685(a)(1),] that:
(1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required
for the completion of the degree program; and
(2) emphasizes:
(A) the student's transition to a particular
four-year college or university that the student chooses; and
(B) preparations for the student's intended
field of study or major at the four-year college or university.
SECTION 4. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
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 September 1, 2019.