By Gallego                                             H.B. No. 791
         77R3962 QS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a public service requirement for undergraduate students
 1-3     at public 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 51.310 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.310.  PUBLIC SERVICE REQUIREMENT. (a) In this
 1-8     section, "institution of higher education" and "private or
 1-9     independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
1-10     assigned by Section 61.003.
1-11           (b)  To receive a baccalaureate degree or a certificate for
1-12     an undergraduate program requiring at least 60 semester credit
1-13     hours from an institution of higher education, a student must
1-14     perform at least 28 hours of unpaid public service during one
1-15     semester while enrolled in an institution of higher education in
1-16     this state.  The public service must consist of activity for and
1-17     under the supervision of a nonprofit organization, governmental
1-18     entity, or other entity that benefits needy or deserving
1-19     individuals or the public, as  determined by the institution the
1-20     student attends.
1-21           (c)  Each institution of higher education shall assign an
1-22     office to coordinate and monitor a public service program to assist
1-23     students to satisfy the public service requirements of this
1-24     section.
 2-1           (d)  Each institution of higher education, through its public
 2-2     service program, shall develop a list of approved public service
 2-3     organizations and entities.  In developing and maintaining the
 2-4     list, an institution of higher education shall:
 2-5                 (1)  include on the list a broad variety of
 2-6     organizations and entities that reflect diverse activities and
 2-7     viewpoints; and
 2-8                 (2)  permit a student to propose a specific
 2-9     organization or entity for consideration for addition to the list.
2-10           (e)  A student shall select one or more of the listed
2-11     organizations or entities to supervise and document the student's
2-12     performance of the required public service.
2-13           (f)  This section does not apply to a student who first
2-14     enrolls in an institution of higher education or private or
2-15     independent institution of higher education before September 1,
2-16     2001.
2-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.