By Berlanga, et al. H.B. No. 2149
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi and approval of
1-3 new departments, schools, and programs.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 87.401(a), Education Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (a) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi <State University>
1-8 is a coeducational educational institution located in the city of
1-9 Corpus Christi. The upper-level institution is a component
1-10 institution of The Texas A&M University System and is under the
1-11 management and control of the board of regents of The Texas A&M
1-12 University System.
1-13 SECTION 2. Effective September 1, 1994, Section 87.401(a),
1-14 Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-15 (a) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi <State University>
1-16 is a coeducational educational institution located in the city of
1-17 Corpus Christi. The <upper-level> institution is a component
1-18 institution of The Texas A&M University System and is under the
1-19 management and control of the board of regents of The Texas A&M
1-20 University System.
1-21 SECTION 3. Section 87.402, Education Code, is amended by
1-22 adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
1-23 (e) At a minimum, the board shall, in accordance with
1-24 Section 61.055(b) of this code, offer:
2-1 (1) baccalaureate programs in business, the arts and
2-2 humanities, allied health, science and technology, and engineering;
2-3 (2) master's programs in a broad range of disciplines,
2-4 including coastal and marine studies, environmental science,
2-5 English, reading, special education, deaf education, fine arts,
2-6 early childhood education, history, surveying, economics, finance,
2-7 marketing, taxation, criminal justice, Hispanic studies, music
2-8 education, Spanish, aquarium science, chemistry, hydrology,
2-9 mariculture, microbiology, sociology, physical therapy,
2-10 occupational health, rehabilitative counseling, and occupational
2-11 therapy; and
2-12 (3) doctoral programs in computer science or
2-13 information systems, education leadership, curriculum and
2-14 instruction, business administration, counseling and guidance,
2-15 psychology, reading, special education, marine biology, and
2-16 nursing.
2-17 (f) Beginning with the fall semester in 1995, the board
2-18 shall begin offering at least one-eighth of the courses and degrees
2-19 required by this section. Each academic year after the 1995-1996
2-20 academic year, the board shall offer at least an additional
2-21 one-eighth of the courses and degrees required by this section
2-22 until all of the courses and degrees required by this section are
2-23 being offered. This subsection expires January 1, 2004.
2-24 SECTION 4. Section 87.404, Education Code, is amended by
2-25 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
2-26 (c) This section expires January 1, 1997.
2-27 SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 85, Education Code, is
3-1 amended by adding Section 85.32 to read as follows:
3-2 Sec. 85.32. ENHANCEMENTS FOR TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--CORPUS
3-3 CHRISTI. To the extent that funds are available for this purpose,
3-4 the board shall provide to Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi
3-5 funding that is equal to or greater than the funding provided to
3-6 Texas A&M University for:
3-7 (1) student support services;
3-8 (2) faculty salaries;
3-9 (3) libraries;
3-10 (4) student scholarships;
3-11 (5) student and faculty research;
3-12 (6) instructional and laboratory equipment; and
3-13 (7) community outreach programs.
3-14 SECTION 6. Section 51.502(1), Education Code, is amended to
3-15 read as follows:
3-16 (1) "Eligible institution" means the college,
3-17 department, or other unit of engineering at any of the following
3-18 institutions of higher education:
3-19 (A) The University of Texas at Austin;
3-20 (B) The University of Texas at Arlington;
3-21 (C) The University of Texas at El Paso;
3-22 (D) The University of Texas at San Antonio;
3-23 (E) The University of Texas of the Permian
3-24 Basin;
3-25 (F) Texas A&M University;
3-26 (G) Prairie View A&M University;
3-27 (H) Texas Tech University;
4-1 (I) Lamar University;
4-2 (J) University of Houston; <and>
4-3 (K) Texas A&M <A&I> University--Kingsville; and
4-4 (L) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi.
4-5 SECTION 7. Section 61.003(3), Education Code, is amended to
4-6 read as follows:
4-7 (3) "General academic teaching institution" means The
4-8 University of Texas at Austin; The University of Texas at El Paso;
4-9 The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; The University of
4-10 Texas at Dallas; The University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas A&M
4-11 University, Main University; The University of Texas at Arlington;
4-12 Tarleton State College; Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical
4-13 College; Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi; Texas Maritime
4-14 Academy; Texas Tech University; University of North Texas; Lamar
4-15 University; Texas A&M <A&I> University--Kingsville; Texas Woman's
4-16 University; Texas Southern University; Midwestern University;
4-17 University of Houston; The University of Texas--Pan American
4-18 <University>; The University of Texas at Brownsville; East Texas
4-19 State University; Sam Houston State University; Southwest Texas
4-20 State University; West Texas A&M <State> University; Stephen F.
4-21 Austin State University; Sul Ross State University; Angelo State
4-22 University; The University of Texas at Tyler <State College>; and
4-23 any other college, university, or institution so classified as
4-24 provided in this chapter or created and so classified, expressly or
4-25 impliedly, by law.
4-26 SECTION 8. Section 61.055, Education Code, is amended to
4-27 read as follows:
5-1 Sec. 61.055. Initiation of New Departments, Schools, and
5-2 Programs. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
5-3 section, a <No> new department, school, or degree or certificate
5-4 program approved by the board or its predecessor, the Texas
5-5 Commission on Higher Education, may not be initiated by any
5-6 institution of higher education until the board has made a written
5-7 finding that the department, school, or degree or certificate
5-8 program is adequately financed by legislative appropriation, by
5-9 funds allocated by the board, or by funds from other sources.
5-10 (b) The coordinating board, in accordance with its rules,
5-11 shall make a determination for approval or disapproval of any
5-12 department, school, or program that is required by other law not
5-13 later than the 13th month for doctoral programs and the ninth month
5-14 for departments, schools, and programs other than doctoral programs
5-15 after the date a complete application is submitted to the
5-16 coordinating board seeking approval of the department, school, or
5-17 program.
5-18 SECTION 9. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
5-19 this Act takes effect immediately.
5-20 (b) To the extent that funds are available for this purpose,
5-21 the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System shall
5-22 provide the funding required by Section 85.32, Education Code, as
5-23 added by this Act, beginning with the fiscal year beginning
5-24 September 1, 1993.
5-25 SECTION 10. The importance of this legislation and the
5-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
6-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
6-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
6-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
6-4 terms, and it is so enacted.