81R25863 SJM-F

By: Menendez, Corte, McClendon, Castro, H.B. No. 2518

McReynolds

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2518:

By: Castro C.S.H.B. No. 2518

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs.

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

SECTION 1. 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 2. 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.