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79R4852 JRJ-D

By:  Martinez                                                     H.B. No. 992



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to nursing degree requirements for a licensed paramedic.             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.907 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.907.  ASSOCIATE NURSING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR A 
LICENSED PARAMEDIC.  (a)  The governing board of each institution of 
higher education as defined by Section 61.003 that offers a nursing 
education program leading to an associate degree shall establish 
procedures by which a person who holds an associate, baccalaureate, 
or graduate degree in a science field from an accredited public or 
private institution of higher education and is a licensed paramedic 
under Section 773.0495, Health and Safety Code:
		(1)  will on application be accepted for admission to 
the institution as a student in the nursing education program, with 
priority over other applicants, at the earliest opportunity that 
enrollment capacity is available; and
		(2)   may earn an associate degree in nursing by 
completing only the core nursing courses, not including any 
non-nursing prerequisites for the core courses, required for the 
degree.
	(b)  A student must complete at least one-half of the 
required semester credit hours in nursing at the institution 
awarding the degree to earn a degree under this section.
	SECTION 2.  Section 51.907, Education Code, as added by this 
Act, applies beginning with the 2005 fall semester.  Each 
institution of higher education to which that section applies shall 
establish the procedures required by that section not later than 
the 2006 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, 2005.