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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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Relating to authorizing of any Community College District to offer |
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a baccalaureate degree program in the field of education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by amending Section 130.303 to read as follows: |
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Section 130.303 AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN BACCALAUREATE |
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DEGREE PROGRAMS. (a) The coordinating board shall authorize |
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baccalaureate degree programs in the fields of applied science, |
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applied technology, and nursing at each public junior college that |
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previously participated in a pilot project to offer baccalaureate |
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degree programs. |
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(b) The coordinating board may authorize baccalaureate |
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degree programs at one or more public junior colleges that offer a |
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degree program in the field of applied science, including a degree |
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program in the field of applied science with an emphasis in early |
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childhood education, applied technology, or nursing and have |
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demonstrated a workforce need. |
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(c) The coordinating board may authorize a baccalaureate |
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degree program in the field of general education for the purposes of |
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graduating licensed teachers at any public junior college. |
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(d) The limitations prescribed by Section 130.306 and |
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Section 130.307 do not apply to a baccalaureate degree program in |
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the field of general education for the purposes of graduating |
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licensed teachers under this section. |
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(e) Not later than January 1, 2025, the coordinating board |
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shall prepare a progress report on the baccalaureate degree program |
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in the field of general education teacher established under this |
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section. Not later than January 1, 2027, the coordinating board |
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shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of the degree program, |
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including any recommendations for legislative action regarding the |
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offering of baccalaureate degree programs in the field of education |
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by a public junior college. The coordinating board shall deliver a |
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copy of each report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of the standing |
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committee of each house of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over higher education, and the primary author and |
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primary sponsor of the bill. This subsection expires January 1, |
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2028. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |