By Wilson H.B. No. 1446 76R6278 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to required multicultural course credit at certain public 1-3 institutions of higher education. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 51.309 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 51.309. MULTICULTURAL COURSES. (a) In this section: 1-8 (1) "General academic teaching institution" has the 1-9 meaning assigned by Section 61.003. 1-10 (2) "Multicultural course" means a course that focuses 1-11 either on two or more cultures or on a specific culture within 1-12 United States society. 1-13 (b) A general academic teaching institution may not grant a 1-14 baccalaureate degree to a student unless the student has received 1-15 credit for at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, in 1-16 multicultural courses at the institution or, if allowed by the 1-17 institution, at another accredited institution of higher education. 1-18 (c) A general academic teaching institution may adopt 1-19 policies governing the granting of credit for multicultural courses 1-20 toward other degree requirements at the institution. 1-21 SECTION 2. Section 51.309, Education Code, as added by this 1-22 Act, applies only to a student who initially enrolls at a general 1-23 academic teaching institution for the 1999-2000 academic year or 1-24 thereafter. 2-1 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-6 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-7 passage, and it is so enacted.