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.