By Villarreal, Rangel                                 H.B. No. 1359
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the transfer of course credit between public
 1-3     institutions of higher education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (d)  In developing field of study curricula, the board shall
 1-8     pursue a management strategy that maximizes efficiency, including a
 1-9     management strategy that provides for the decentralization of
1-10     advisory committees to enable concurrent development of curricula
1-11     for different fields of study.
1-12           (e)  Not later than January 1, 2003, the board shall develop
1-13     the field of study curriculum for not fewer than 10 degree programs
1-14     designated by the board not later than January 1, 2002, that are
1-15     high-demand degree programs for transfer students and that are
1-16     common to more than one general academic teaching institution.  If
1-17     the board fails to meet the requirements of this subsection by
1-18     January 1, 2003, for a designated degree program, all lower
1-19     division courses required for that degree program are automatically
1-20     transferable for credit between all institutions of higher
1-21     education that offer that degree program.  Not later than January
1-22     1, 2003, the board shall report to the legislature regarding the
1-23     board's progress in developing the field of study curricula
1-24     required by this subsection.
 2-1           (f)  Not later than January 1, 2004, the board shall develop,
 2-2     in addition to the degree programs designated by the board under
 2-3     Subsection (e), the field of study curriculum for not fewer than
 2-4     five degree programs designated by the board not later than January
 2-5     1, 2003, that are high-demand degree programs for transfer students
 2-6     and that are common to more than one general academic teaching
 2-7     institution.  If the board fails to meet the requirements of this
 2-8     subsection by January 1, 2004, for a designated degree program, all
 2-9     lower division courses required for that degree program are
2-10     automatically transferable for credit between all institutions of
2-11     higher education that offer that degree program.  Not later than
2-12     January 1, 2004, the board shall report to the legislature
2-13     regarding the board's progress in developing the field of study
2-14     curricula required by this subsection.
2-15           SECTION 2.  Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
2-16     amended by adding Sections 61.830 and 61.831 to read as follows:
2-17           Sec. 61.830.  PUBLICATION OF GUIDELINES ADDRESSING TRANSFER
2-18     PRACTICES.  In its course catalogs and on its website, each
2-19     institution of higher education shall publish guidelines addressing
2-20     the practices of the institution regarding the transfer of course
2-21     credit.  In the guidelines, the institution must identify a course
2-22     by using any common course numbering system adopted by the board.
2-23           Sec. 61.831.  PURPOSE OF SUBCHAPTER. The purpose of this
2-24     subchapter is to develop a seamless system of higher education with
2-25     respect to student transfers between institutions of higher
2-26     education, including student transfers from public junior colleges
2-27     to general academic teaching institutions.
 3-1           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 3-2     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 3-3     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 3-4     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 3-5     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.