79R3521 CAS-D
By: Brown of Brazos H.B. No. 3074
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the number of semester credit hours required for
completion of a baccalaureate degree program at a general academic
teaching institution.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0515 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0515. SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. (a) To earn a baccalaureate degree, a
general academic teaching institution may not require a student to
complete more than the minimum number of semester credit hours
required for the degree by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools or its successor unless the institution determines that
there is a compelling academic reason for requiring completion of
additional semester credit hours for the degree under standards
prescribed by the board.
(b) The board by rule shall prescribe standards for
determining whether there is a compelling academic reason for an
institution to require completion of additional semester credit
hours for a particular baccalaureate degree. A compelling academic
reason may include certification, industry, or national academic
accreditation requirements.
(c) The board may review one or more of an institution's
baccalaureate degree programs to ensure compliance with this
section.
(d) Subsection (a) does not apply to a baccalaureate degree
awarded by an institution to a student enrolled in the institution
before the 2008 fall semester. This subsection does not prohibit
the institution from reducing the number of semester credit hours
the student must complete to receive the degree.
SECTION 2. Not later than May 31, 2006, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required by
Section 61.0515, as added by this Act, relating to the number of
semester credit hours required for completion of a baccalaureate
degree program at a general academic teaching institution.
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.