73R10070 E
By Gallego H.B. No. 1916
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1916:
By Rangel C.S.H.B. No. 1916
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to Sul Ross State University and approval of new
1-3 departments, schools, and programs.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 96.01, Education Code, is amended to read
1-6 as follows:
1-7 Sec. 96.01. Sul Ross State University. Sul Ross State
1-8 University is a coeducational institution of higher education
1-9 located in the city of Alpine, with a center in the city of Uvalde
1-10 and other components as provided by law. It is under the
1-11 management and control of the Board of Regents, Texas State
1-12 University System.
1-13 SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 96, Education Code, is
1-14 amended by adding Sections 96.02-96.05 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 96.02. COURSES AND DEGREES. (a) The board of regents
1-16 of the Texas State University System, with the approval of the
1-17 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, may prescribe courses
1-18 leading to customary degrees as are offered at leading American
1-19 educational institutions and may award those degrees.
1-20 (b) At a minimum, the board shall, in accordance with
1-21 Section 61.055 (b) of this code, offer:
1-22 (1) a baccalaureate program at the Alpine campus in
1-23 computer science or information systems;
1-24 (2) baccalaureate programs at the Uvalde Center in
2-1 biology and criminal justice;
2-2 (3) master's programs at the Alpine campus in criminal
2-3 justice, psychology, mathematics, and communications;
2-4 (4) a master's program at the Uvalde Center in public
2-5 administration; and
2-6 (5) programs in multicultural education at either the
2-7 Alpine campus or the Uvalde Center.
2-8 (c) At the Alpine campus or the Uvalde Center, the board
2-9 shall offer:
2-10 (1) international business programs in cooperation
2-11 with Texas A&M International University; and
2-12 (2) educational administration programs in cooperation
2-13 with The University of Texas at San Antonio.
2-14 Sec. 96.03. JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS. The board of regents of
2-15 the Texas State University System, with the approval of the Texas
2-16 Higher Education Coordinating Board, may contract with the
2-17 governing board of another general academic teaching institution,
2-18 as defined by Section 61.003 of this code, or with the governing
2-19 board of a college or university in Mexico, to offer joint degree
2-20 programs.
2-21 Sec. 96.04. JOINT APPOINTMENTS. (a) The board of regents
2-22 of the Texas State University System may make joint faculty
2-23 appointments to a position in Sul Ross State University or a
2-24 component of the university and to a position in another
2-25 institution under its governance.
2-26 (b) The salary of a person receiving a joint appointment
2-27 shall be apportioned between Sul Ross State University or the
3-1 component of the university and the other institution on the basis
3-2 of services rendered.
3-3 Sec. 96.05. PHASE-IN. (a) Beginning with the fall semester
3-4 in 1995, the board of regents of the Texas State University System
3-5 shall begin offering at least one-eighth of the courses and degrees
3-6 required by this subchapter.
3-7 (b) Each academic year after the 1995-1996 academic year,
3-8 the board shall offer at least an additional one-eighth of the
3-9 courses and degrees required by this subchapter until all of the
3-10 courses and degrees required by this subchapter are being offered.
3-11 (c) This section expires January 1, 2004.
3-12 SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 95, Education Code, is
3-13 amended by adding Section 95.35 to read as follows:
3-14 Sec. 95.35. ENHANCEMENTS FOR SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY. To
3-15 the extent that funds are available for this purpose, the board of
3-16 regents of the Texas State University System shall provide to Sul
3-17 Ross State University funding that is equal to or greater than the
3-18 funding provided to Southwest Texas State University for:
3-19 (1) student support services;
3-20 (2) faculty salaries;
3-21 (3) libraries;
3-22 (4) student scholarships;
3-23 (5) student and faculty research;
3-24 (6) instructional and laboratory equipment; and
3-25 (7) community outreach programs.
3-26 SECTION 4. Section 61.055, Education Code, is amended to
3-27 read as follows:
4-1 Sec. 61.055. Initiation of New Departments, Schools, and
4-2 Programs. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
4-3 section, a <No> new department, school, or degree or certificate
4-4 program approved by the board or its predecessor, the Texas
4-5 Commission on Higher Education, may not be initiated by any
4-6 institution of higher education until the board has made a written
4-7 finding that the department, school, or degree or certificate
4-8 program is adequately financed by legislative appropriation, by
4-9 funds allocated by the board, or by funds from other sources.
4-10 (b) The coordinating board shall make a determination for
4-11 approval or disapproval of any department, school, or program that
4-12 is required by other law not later than the 13th month for doctoral
4-13 programs and the ninth month for departments, schools, and programs
4-14 other than doctoral programs after the date a complete application
4-15 is submitted to the coordinating board seeking approval of the
4-16 department, school, or program.
4-17 SECTION 5. To the extent that funds are available for this
4-18 purpose, the board of regents of the Texas State University System
4-19 shall provide the funding required by Section 95.35, Education
4-20 Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the fiscal year
4-21 beginning September 1, 1993.
4-22 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
4-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
5-1 passage, and it is so enacted.