Bill Text: TX SB1490 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to authorize certain degree programs offered by private postsecondary educational institutions.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-08 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1490 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1490-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to authorize certain degree programs offered by private postsecondary educational institutions.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-08 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1490 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1490-Engrossed.html
By: Creighton, Zaffirini | S.B. No. 1490 |
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relating to the authority of the Texas Higher Education | ||
Coordinating Board to authorize certain degree programs offered by | ||
private postsecondary educational institutions. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 61.303, Education Code, as amended by | ||
S.B. 1781, Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is | ||
amended by reenacting and amending Subsection (c) and adding | ||
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: | ||
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), the [ |
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may approve the issuance of a certificate of authorization to grant | ||
degrees [ |
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regarding a process to allow an exempt institution or person to | ||
apply [ |
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under this section. | ||
(c-1) The board may not approve the issuance of a | ||
certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to grant a | ||
professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this | ||
state are applicable toward a professional degree if the | ||
institution is chartered in another state or has its principal | ||
office or primary educational program in another state unless the | ||
institution is an authorized institution operating under a State | ||
Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). In this subsection, | ||
"professional degree" includes Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of | ||
Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of | ||
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of | ||
Laws (LL.B.). | ||
SECTION 2. Section 61.306, Education Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (c-1) and | ||
(d) to read as follows: | ||
(a) Subject to Subsections (c) and (c-1), the [ |
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may issue a certificate of authority to grant a degree or degrees | ||
and to enroll students for courses which may be applicable toward a | ||
degree if it finds that the applicant meets the standards | ||
established by the board for certification. | ||
(c) The board may not issue a certificate of authority for a | ||
private postsecondary educational institution to grant a | ||
professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this | ||
state are applicable toward a professional degree if the | ||
institution is chartered in a foreign country or has its principal | ||
office or primary educational program in a foreign country. | ||
(c-1) The board may issue a certificate of authority for a | ||
private postsecondary educational institution to grant a | ||
professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this | ||
state are applicable toward a professional degree only if the board | ||
determines that: | ||
(1) the capacity and ability of similar professional | ||
degree programs at institutions of higher education and private or | ||
independent institutions of higher education are insufficient to | ||
meet the state's current market needs; | ||
(2) the institution seeking the certificate of | ||
authority: | ||
(A) has the necessary faculty and other resources | ||
to ensure student success; and | ||
(B) is subject to and agrees to meet the same | ||
standards for approval and all academic criteria applicable to | ||
similar professional degree programs offered by institutions of | ||
higher education and private or independent institutions of higher | ||
education; and | ||
(3) sufficient placements are available to students | ||
for required field-based experience, such as clinicals or | ||
clerkships, for the proposed professional degree. | ||
(d) In this section: | ||
(1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or | ||
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(2) "Professional [ |
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includes a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), | ||
Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | ||
(D.V.M.), Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |