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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring satisfactory completion of a course in the |
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building |
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Rating System as a requisite for a degree in architecture at certain |
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public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.311 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.311. LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN |
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(LEED) COURSE REQUIRED. (a) An institution of higher education, as |
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defined by Section 61.003, that offers a degree program in |
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architecture: |
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(1) shall provide a course in the United States Green |
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Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design |
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(LEED) Green Building Rating System as part of the degree program in |
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architecture; and |
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(2) may not award a degree in architecture to a student |
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who does not satisfactorily complete the course or an equivalent |
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course at another institution. |
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(b) A course provided under this section may focus on |
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preparing a student to earn the Leadership in Energy and |
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Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional credential. |
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(c) This section does not apply to requirements for a degree |
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program in architecture for a student who entered the degree |
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program at an institution of higher education before the 2010 fall |
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semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |