78R5456 JSA-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 1057



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing for a student who qualifies for automatic 
admission to an institution of higher education to maintain that 
status for transferring between institutions in certain 
circumstances.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.8035 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.8035.  AUTOMATIC ADMISSION OF APPLICANTS COMPLETING 
CORE CURRICULUM AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION.  (a)  In this section:
		(1)  "Core curriculum" means the core curriculum 
adopted by an institution of higher education under Section 61.822.
		(2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning 
assigned by Section 61.003.
	(b)  A general academic teaching institution shall admit an 
applicant for admission to the institution as a transfer 
undergraduate student who:
		(1)  graduated from high school not earlier than the 
fourth school year before the academic year for which the applicant 
seeks admission and qualified for automatic admission to a general 
academic teaching institution under Section 51.803 at the time of 
graduation; and
		(2)  completed the core curriculum at another 
institution of higher education.
	(c)  For purposes of this section, transfer semester credit 
hours from a different institution of higher education and semester 
credit hours earned by examination may be included in determining 
whether the person completed the core curriculum at an institution 
of higher education.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with admissions to a 
general academic teaching institution for the 2004 spring semester.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.