AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the appointment of faculty members to certain
 1-2     curriculum advisory committees of the Texas Higher Education
 1-3     Coordinating Board and to the development of field of study
 1-4     curricula by the board.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 61.821, Education Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
 1-8                 (3)  "Faculty member" means a person who is employed
 1-9     full-time by an institution of higher education as a member of the
1-10     faculty whose primary duties include teaching, research, academic
1-11     service, or administration.  However, the term does not include a
1-12     person holding faculty rank who spends a majority of the person's
1-13     time for the institution engaged in managerial or supervisory
1-14     activities, including a chancellor, vice chancellor, president,
1-15     vice president, provost, associate or assistant provost, or dean.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 61.822, Education Code,
1-17     is amended to read as follows:
1-18           (a)  The board, with the assistance of advisory committees
1-19     composed of representatives of institutions of higher education,
1-20     shall develop a recommended core curriculum of at least 42 semester
1-21     credit hours, including a statement of the content, component
1-22     areas, and objectives of the core curriculum.  At least a majority
1-23     of the members of any advisory committee named under this section
1-24     shall be faculty members of an institution of higher education.  An
 2-1     institution shall consult with the faculty of the institution
 2-2     before nominating or recommending a person to the board as the
 2-3     institution's representative on an advisory committee.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  Subsection (a), Section 61.823, Education Code,
 2-5     is amended to read as follows:
 2-6           (a)  The board, with the assistance of advisory committees
 2-7     composed of representatives of institutions of higher education,
 2-8     shall develop field of study curricula.  Each advisory committee
 2-9     shall be equitably composed of representatives of institutions of
2-10     higher education. Each university system or institution of higher
2-11     education which offers a degree program for which a field of study
2-12     curriculum is proposed shall be offered participation on the
2-13     advisory committee for that particular field of study.  At least a
2-14     majority of the members of any advisory committee named under this
2-15     section shall be faculty members of an institution of higher
2-16     education.  An institution shall consult with the faculty of the
2-17     institution before nominating or recommending a person to the board
2-18     as the institution's representative on an advisory committee.
2-19           SECTION 4.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
2-20     shall conduct a study to examine the need for and feasibility of
2-21     developing a field of study curriculum under Section 61.823,
2-22     Education Code, in the various fields of study common to
2-23     institutions of higher education.  Not later than September 1,
2-24     2000, the board shall report the results of the study to the
2-25     governing board of each public institution of higher education and
2-26     to the presiding officer of the standing committee in each house of
 3-1     the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education.
 3-2           SECTION 5.  Each advisory committee established by the Texas
 3-3     Higher Education Coordinating Board under Subsection (a), Section
 3-4     61.822, or Subsection (a), Section 61.823, Education Code, must
 3-5     include a majority of faculty members, as defined by Subdivision
 3-6     (3), Section 61.821, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
 3-7     later than January 1, 2000.
 3-8           SECTION 6.  The importance of this legislation and the
 3-9     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-13     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-14     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1261 passed the Senate on
         April 26, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
         the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 1999, by the
         following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1261 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 25, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 145,
         Nays 0, two present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor