81R23335 SJM-D
 
  By: Kolkhorst, Christian H.B. No. 2504
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2504:
 
  By:  Branch C.S.H.B. No. 2504
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to
  make available to the public on the institution's Internet website
  certain undergraduate course information.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.974 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.974.  INTERNET ACCESS TO COURSE INFORMATION. (a)
  Each institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
  shall make available to the public on the institution's Internet
  website the following information for each undergraduate classroom
  course offered for credit by the institution:
               (1)  a syllabus that:
                     (A)  satisfies any standards adopted by the
  institution;
                     (B)  provides a brief description of each major
  course requirement, including each major assignment and
  examination;
                     (C)  lists any required or recommended reading;
  and
                     (D)  provides a general description of the subject
  matter of each lecture or discussion;
               (2)  a curriculum vitae of each regular instructor that
  lists the instructor's:
                     (A)  postsecondary education;
                     (B)  teaching experience; and
                     (C)  significant professional publications; and
               (3)  if available, a departmental budget report of the
  department under which the course is offered, from the most recent
  semester or other academic term during which the institution
  offered the course.
         (b)  The information required by Subsection (a) must be:
               (1)  accessible from the institution's Internet website
  home page by use of not more than three links;
               (2)  searchable by keywords and phrases; and
               (3)  accessible to the public without requiring
  registration or use of a user name, a password, or another user
  identification.
         (c)  The institution shall make the information required by
  Subsection (a) available not later than the seventh day after the
  first day of classes for the semester or other academic term during
  which the course is offered. The institution shall continue to make
  the information available on the institution's Internet website
  until at least the fourth anniversary of the date on which the
  institution initially posted the information.
         (d)  The institution shall update the information required
  by Subsection (a) as soon as practicable after the information
  changes.
         (e)  The governing body of the institution shall designate an
  administrator to be responsible for ensuring implementation of this
  section.  The administrator may assign duties under this section to
  one or more administrative employees.
         (f)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, each
  institution of higher education shall submit a written report
  regarding the institution's compliance with this section to the
  governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative
  standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher
  education.
         (g)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
  rules necessary to administer this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.974, Education Code, as added by this
  Act, applies beginning with the 2010 fall semester.
         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, 2009.