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79R744 KSD-D

By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 39 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to forensic evidence training for students enrolled in 
certain medical or nursing degree programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.310 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.310.  FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTION COURSE 
REQUIREMENT. (a)  An institution of higher education, as defined by 
Section 61.003, that offers a program leading to a doctor of 
medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree or to a degree that 
satisfies the educational requirement for licensure as a registered 
nurse shall establish a course in forensic evidence collection and, 
except as provided by Subsection (b), require completion of the 
course as a prerequisite to receiving the degree.
	(b)  The institution of higher education may determine 
whether to award to a student enrolled in the degree program credit 
for a substantially similar course successfully completed at 
another public or accredited private institution of higher 
education.
	(c)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall 
establish standards for the course required by this section.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  Each institution of higher education 
offering a degree program to which Section 51.310, Education Code, 
as added by this Act, applies must offer the course required by that 
section not later than the fall 2006 semester. 
	(b)  Section 51.310, Education Code, as added by this Act, 
applies only to a student who initially enrolls in a degree program 
to which that section applies on or after August 1, 2006.
	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.