By Shields                                            H.B. No. 3715
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the definition of higher education institutions under
 1-3     the Higher Education Coordinating Act of 1965.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 61.302 (1), Subchapter G, Chapter 61,
 1-6     Texas Education Code is amended as follows:
 1-7                 (2)  "Private postsecondary educational institution" or
 1-8     "institution" means an educational institution which:
 1-9                       (A)  is not an institution of higher education as
1-10     defined by Section 61.003;
1-11                       (B)  is incorporated under the laws of this
1-12     state, maintains a place of business in this state, has a
1-13     representative present in this state, or solicits business in this
1-14     state; [and]
1-15                       (C)  furnishes or offers to furnish courses of
1-16     instruction in person, by electronic media, or by correspondence
1-17     leading to a degree or providing credits alleged to be applicable
1-18     to a degree[.]; and
1-19                       (D)  is not a seminary, theological educational
1-20     institution, divinity educational institution, parochial
1-21     educational institution, church-based educational institution,
 2-1     church-related educational institution, religion-based educational
 2-2     institution, or religion-related educational institution.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
 2-4     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-9     passage, and it is so enacted.