Bill Text: TX SB497 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the number of semester credit hours required to earn an associate degree at public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [SB497 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SB497-Enrolled.html
S.B. No. 497 |
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relating to the number of semester credit hours required to earn an | ||
associate degree at public institutions of higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 61.05151 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 61.05151. SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ASSOCIATE | ||
DEGREE. (a) To earn an associate degree, a student may not be | ||
required by an institution of higher education to complete more | ||
than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the | ||
degree by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its | ||
successor unless the institution determines that there is a | ||
compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional | ||
semester credit hours for the degree. | ||
(b) The board may review one or more of an institution's | ||
associate degree programs to ensure compliance with this section. | ||
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an associate degree | ||
awarded by an institution to a student enrolled in the institution | ||
before the 2015 fall semester. This subsection does not prohibit | ||
the institution from reducing the number of semester credit hours | ||
the student must complete to receive the degree. | ||
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. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 497 passed the Senate on | ||
March 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 497 passed the House on | ||
May 22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 3, two | ||
present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |