By McClendon                                            H.B. No. 47
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the automatic admission of certain undergraduate
 1-3     transfer students.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 51.801, Education Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.801.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "general
 1-8     academic teaching institution," "governing board," "medical and
 1-9     dental unit," "public junior college," "public technical
1-10     institute," and "university system" have the meanings assigned by
1-11     Section 61.003.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-13     amended by adding Section 51.8065 to read as follows:
1-14           Sec. 51.8065.  AUTOMATIC ADMISSION:  UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER
1-15     STUDENTS.  (a)  Each general academic teaching institution shall
1-16     admit an applicant for admission to the institution as an
1-17     undergraduate transfer student if in the year preceding the
1-18     academic year for which the applicant is applying for admission
1-19     under this section the applicant:
1-20                 (1)  received a degree or certificate from a public
1-21     junior college or public technical institute in a program requiring
1-22     at least 30 semester credit hours, including the courses required
1-23     in the core curriculum established under Section 61.822; and
1-24                 (2)  completed the program with a cumulative grade
 2-1     point average of at least a 3.0 on a four-point scale or the
 2-2     equivalent.
 2-3           (b)  To qualify for admission under this section, an
 2-4     applicant must submit an application before the expiration of any
 2-5     application filing deadline established by the institution.
 2-6           (c)  After admitting an applicant under this section, the
 2-7     institution may review the applicant's record and any other factor
 2-8     the institution considers appropriate to determine whether the
 2-9     applicant may require additional preparation for college-level work
2-10     or would benefit from inclusion in a retention program.  The
2-11     institution may require a student so identified to enroll during
2-12     the summer immediately after the student is admitted under this
2-13     section to participate in appropriate enrichment courses and
2-14     orientation programs.  This section does not prohibit a student who
2-15     is not determined to need additional preparation for college-level
2-16     work from enrolling, if the student chooses, during the summer
2-17     immediately after the student is admitted under this section.
2-18           (d)  Admission to a specific institution is contingent upon
2-19     the institution having space available for admission of additional
2-20     students.
2-21           (e)  An institution may have requirements for admission to a
2-22     particular program or school that exceed a 3.0 average.  Admissions
2-23     to a particular program or school within an institution shall be
2-24     based on the requirements of the institution.
2-25           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately and
2-26     applies beginning with admissions for the 2002 fall semester.
2-27           (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and each
 3-1     general academic teaching institution shall adopt rules or policies
 3-2     relating to the admission of students under Section 51.8065,
 3-3     Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1,
 3-4     2002.