By Gallegos, et al.                                   H.B. No. 2676
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to components of the University of Houston System.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 111, Education Code, is
    1-5  amended by adding Section 111.03 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 111.03.  INITIATION OF NEW DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, AND
    1-7  PROGRAMS.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in
    1-8  accordance with coordinating board rules shall make a determination
    1-9  for approval or disapproval of any department, school, or program
   1-10  offered by a component institution of the University of Houston
   1-11  System not later than the 13th month for doctoral programs and the
   1-12  ninth month for departments, schools, and programs other than
   1-13  doctoral programs after the date a complete application is
   1-14  submitted to the coordinating board seeking approval of the
   1-15  department, school, or program.
   1-16        SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 111, Education Code, is
   1-17  amended by adding Section 111.86 to read as follows:
   1-18        Sec. 111.86.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  The board of regents of
   1-19  the University of Houston System may prescribe courses leading to
   1-20  customary degrees as are offered at leading American educational
   1-21  institutions and may award those degrees at the University of
   1-22  Houston--Clear Lake.  Those courses and degrees are subject to the
   1-23  prior approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  Subchapter F, Chapter 111, Education Code, is
    2-1  amended by adding Section 111.94 to read as follows:
    2-2        Sec. 111.94.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  The board of regents of
    2-3  the University of Houston System may prescribe courses leading to
    2-4  customary degrees as are offered at leading American educational
    2-5  institutions and may award those degrees at the University of
    2-6  Houston--Downtown.  Those courses and degrees are subject to the
    2-7  prior approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
    2-8        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-9  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-10  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-11  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-12  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-13  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-14  passage, and it is so enacted.