1-1 By: Villarreal, Rangel (Senate Sponsor - Shapleigh) H.B. No. 1359 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2001; 1-3 May 10, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the transfer of course credit between public 1-9 institutions of higher education. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows: 1-13 (d) In developing field of study curricula, the board shall 1-14 pursue a management strategy that maximizes efficiency, including a 1-15 management strategy that provides for the decentralization of 1-16 advisory committees to enable concurrent development of curricula 1-17 for different fields of study. 1-18 (e) Not later than January 1, 2003, the board shall develop 1-19 the field of study curriculum for not fewer than 10 degree programs 1-20 designated by the board not later than January 1, 2002, that are 1-21 high-demand degree programs for transfer students and that are 1-22 common to more than one general academic teaching institution. If 1-23 the board fails to meet the requirements of this subsection by 1-24 January 1, 2003, for a designated degree program, all lower 1-25 division courses required for that degree program are automatically 1-26 transferable for credit between all institutions of higher 1-27 education that offer that degree program. Not later than January 1-28 1, 2003, the board shall report to the legislature regarding the 1-29 board's progress in developing the field of study curricula 1-30 required by this subsection. 1-31 (f) Not later than January 1, 2004, the board shall develop, 1-32 in addition to the degree programs designated by the board under 1-33 Subsection (e), the field of study curriculum for not fewer than 1-34 five degree programs designated by the board not later than January 1-35 1, 2003, that are high-demand degree programs for transfer students 1-36 and that are common to more than one general academic teaching 1-37 institution. If the board fails to meet the requirements of this 1-38 subsection by January 1, 2004, for a designated degree program, all 1-39 lower division courses required for that degree program are 1-40 automatically transferable for credit between all institutions of 1-41 higher education that offer that degree program. Not later than 1-42 January 1, 2004, the board shall report to the legislature 1-43 regarding the board's progress in developing the field of study 1-44 curricula required by this subsection. 1-45 SECTION 2. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 1-46 amended by adding Sections 61.830 and 61.831 to read as follows: 1-47 Sec. 61.830. PUBLICATION OF GUIDELINES ADDRESSING TRANSFER 1-48 PRACTICES. In its course catalogs and on its website, each 1-49 institution of higher education shall publish guidelines addressing 1-50 the practices of the institution regarding the transfer of course 1-51 credit. In the guidelines, the institution must identify a course 1-52 by using any common course numbering system adopted by the board. 1-53 Sec. 61.831. PURPOSE OF SUBCHAPTER. The purpose of this 1-54 subchapter is to develop a seamless system of higher education with 1-55 respect to student transfers between institutions of higher 1-56 education, including student transfers from public junior colleges 1-57 to general academic teaching institutions. 1-58 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-59 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-60 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-61 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-62 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-63 * * * * *