By: Morrison H.B. No. 2425

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to engineering recruitment programs at public or private institutions of higher education and to certain degree programs at public junior colleges.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 61.791(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The board shall establish and administer, using funds appropriated for that purpose, a one-week summer program to take place on the campus of each general academic teaching institution or private or independent institution of higher education that offers an engineering degree program. The summer program must be designed for middle and high school students and to expose those students to math, science, and engineering concepts that a student in an engineering degree program may encounter.

SECTION 2. Sections 61.792(a) and (b), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The board shall establish and administer, using funds appropriated for that purpose, scholarships for students pursuing a degree in engineering at a general academic teaching institution or a private or independent institution of higher education.

(b) To qualify for a scholarship under this section, a student must:

(1) have graduated with a grade point average in the top 20 percent of the student's high school graduating class;

(2) have graduated from high school with a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent in mathematics and science courses offered under the recommended or advanced high school program under Section 28.025(a); and

(3) maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale at the general academic teaching institution or the private or independent institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled.

SECTION 3. Sections 130.0012(a) and (b), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall authorize a public junior college [colleges] to offer a baccalaureate degree program that qualifies under Subsection (e) if:

(1) the program is [programs] in the field [fields] of applied science or [and] applied technology; or

(2) the public junior college previously participated in a pilot project to offer baccalaureate degree programs [under this section. Offering a baccalaureate degree program under this section does not otherwise alter the role and mission of a public junior college].

(b) Offering a baccalaureate degree program under this section does not otherwise alter the role and mission of a public junior college. [The coordinating board shall authorize baccalaureate degree programs at each public junior college that previously participated in a pilot project to offer baccalaureate degree programs.]

SECTION 4. (a) Sections 61.791 and 61.792, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year.

(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules for the administration of Sections 61.791 and 61.792, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

SECTION 5. 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, 2009.