By:  Gallegos                                         H.B. No. 2676
       73R6837 SOS-D
                                 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.  Section 111.31, Education Code, is amended to
    1-5  read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 111.31.  Courses and Degrees.  The board shall prescribe
    1-7  courses leading to customary degrees offered in American
    1-8  universities of the first rank.  The <However, the> role and scope
    1-9  of the university, but not the courses, <including its authorized>
   1-10  departments, and offerings of degree and certificate programs, are
   1-11  subject to the determination and approval of the Texas Higher
   1-12  Education Coordinating Board<, Texas College and University
   1-13  System>.  All work done and all courses, degrees, certificates, and
   1-14  diplomas awarded shall conform to standard college requirements as
   1-15  promulgated by the accrediting associations that supervise matters
   1-16  of accreditation of universities and colleges in the State of
   1-17  Texas.
   1-18        SECTION 2.  Section 111.83, Education Code, is amended to
   1-19  read as follows:
   1-20        Sec. 111.83.  Role and Scope.  The university shall be
   1-21  organized to offer only junior, senior, and graduate-level
   1-22  programs.  Those programs are not subject to the prior approval of
   1-23  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 111, Education Code, is
    2-1  amended by adding Section 111.86 to read as follows:
    2-2        Sec. 111.86.  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--Clear Lake.  Those courses and degrees are not subject to
    2-7  the prior approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
    2-8  Board.
    2-9        SECTION 4.  Subchapter F, Chapter 111, Education Code, is
   2-10  amended by adding Section 111.94 to read as follows:
   2-11        Sec. 111.94.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  The board of regents of
   2-12  the University of Houston System may prescribe courses leading to
   2-13  customary degrees as are offered at leading American educational
   2-14  institutions and may award those degrees at the University of
   2-15  Houston--Downtown.  Those courses and degrees are not subject to
   2-16  the prior approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
   2-17  Board.
   2-18        SECTION 5.  Section 111.98, Education Code, is amended to
   2-19  read as follows:
   2-20        Sec. 111.98.  Courses; Administration.  (a)  The board of
   2-21  regents may prescribe courses leading to appropriate degrees and
   2-22  adopt other rules necessary for the operation and management of the
   2-23  center.  Those courses and degrees are not subject to the prior
   2-24  approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
   2-25        (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (a) of this section,
   2-26  the <The> center is subject to the authority of the Texas Higher
   2-27  Education Coordinating Board<, Texas College and University
    3-1  System>.
    3-2        SECTION 6.  Section 61.055, Education Code, is amended to
    3-3  read as follows:
    3-4        Sec. 61.055.  Initiation of New Departments, Schools, and
    3-5  Programs.  Except as otherwise provided by law, a <No> new
    3-6  department, school, or degree or certificate program approved by
    3-7  the board or its predecessor, the Texas Commission on Higher
    3-8  Education, may not be initiated by any institution of higher
    3-9  education until the board has made a written finding that the
   3-10  department, school, or degree or certificate program is adequately
   3-11  financed by legislative appropriation, by funds allocated by the
   3-12  board, or by funds from other sources.
   3-13        SECTION 7.  The importance of this legislation and the
   3-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   3-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   3-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   3-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   3-18  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   3-19  passage, and it is so enacted.