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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption from accreditation for certain private |
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postsecondary educational institutions offering professional law |
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degrees in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.313, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows: |
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(g-1) For the purposes of Subsection (a), a private |
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postsecondary educational institution that holds a certificate of |
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authority issued under Section 61.3035 may use the term "school of |
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law" or "law school" in the institution's official name or title. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.3035 to read as follows: |
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Section 61.3035. EXEMPTION FROM ACCREDITATION FOR CERTAIN |
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LAW SCHOOLS. (a) The board by rule shall establish fair and |
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reasonable standards for issuing a certificate of authority to a |
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private postsecondary educational institution in this state to |
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grant degrees for completion of a professional program in the study |
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of law. |
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(b) The standards under this section must ensure that each |
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student attending the institution receives an education that fully |
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prepares the student for the practice of law in this state. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 81, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 81.062 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.062. ADMISSION OF GRADUATES OF CERTAIN LAW SCHOOLS. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, a person who holds a degree granted |
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by a law school to which a certificate of authority has been issued |
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under Section 61.3035, Education Code, is entitled to the same |
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right to admission to the practice of law and to be administered the |
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professional licensing examination by the board of law examiners |
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under Subchapter B, Chapter 82, as are persons who hold a degree |
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granted by an accredited law school in this state. |
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SECTION 4. Section 82.0341, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 82.0241. UNACCREDITED SCHOOLS OF LAW; EXCEPTION. All |
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matters relating to licensing of persons who were enrolled at |
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unaccredited schools of law in this state are within the exclusive |
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jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas, except that |
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a person who holds a degree granted by a law school to which a |
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certificate of authority has been issued under Section 61.3035, |
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Education Code, is entitled to the same rights concerning licensing |
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as a person who holds a degree granted by an accredited law school. |
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SECTION 5. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt the standards required by Section 61.3035, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |