79R6857 JSA-D

By:  Goolsby                                                      H.B. No. 1624



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a law school in the city of Dallas 
by the University of North Texas System.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 105, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 105.502 to read as follows:
	Sec. 105.502.  UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM SCHOOL OF 
LAW.  (a)  The board may establish and operate a school of law in the 
city of Dallas as a professional school of the University of North 
Texas System.
	(b)  In administering the law school, the board may prescribe 
courses leading to customary degrees offered at other leading 
American schools of law and may award those degrees.
	(c)  Until the University of North Texas at Dallas has been 
administered as an independent institution of higher education for 
five years, the board shall administer the law school as a program 
of the University of North Texas System.  After that period, the law 
school shall become a professional school of the University of 
North Texas at Dallas.
	SECTION 2.  Not later than June 1, 2006, the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board shall prepare a report regarding the 
establishment of a law school as authorized by Section 105.502, 
Education Code, as added by this Act.  The report must address the 
feasibility of establishing the law school, the actions the 
University of North Texas System must take to obtain accreditation 
of the law school, and any recommendations the coordinating board 
may have regarding the establishment of the law school, including 
an implementation schedule.  The coordinating board shall deliver a 
copy of the statement to the board of regents of the University of 
North Texas System and to the chair of each legislative standing 
committee or subcommittee with jurisdiction over higher education.
	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.