By Gutierrez                                          H.B. No. 1753
         77R5233 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a partnership agreement between The University of
 1-3     Texas--Pan American and the South Texas Community College District
 1-4     to offer the lower-division courses required for students enrolled
 1-5     in a teacher preparation program.
 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1. Section 77.12, Education Code, is amended by
 1-8     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 1-9           (d)  The university may enter into a partnership agreement
1-10     with the South Texas Community College District in the manner
1-11     authorized by Subchapter N, Chapter 51, providing for the district
1-12     to offer the lower-division courses required for students enrolled
1-13     in a teacher preparation program at the university. A student
1-14     enrolled in a teacher preparation program at the university is not
1-15     required to enroll as a student of the community college district
1-16     to register for a lower-division course offered under the
1-17     agreement.
1-18           SECTION 2. Not later than May 31, 2002, the Texas Higher
1-19     Education Coordinating Board shall prepare an impact statement
1-20     examining the initial implementation of this Act and shall deliver
1-21     a copy of the statement to the board of regents of The University
1-22     of Texas System, to the board of trustees of the South Texas
1-23     Community College District, and to the chair of the standing
1-24     committee of each house of the legislature with primary
 2-1     jurisdiction over higher education.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.