By: West  S.B. No. 1728
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2009; March 20, 2009, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  April 20, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 20, 2009,
  sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1728 By:  West
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the administration of and eligibility for the Joint
  Admissions Medical Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 51.826, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible for admission to the program or for
  selection as a program alternate, an undergraduate student must:
               (1)  [have enrolled at an institution of higher
  education not later than the first fall semester following the
  student's graduation from high school;
               [(2)]  be enrolled at a general academic teaching
  institution or a private or independent institution of higher
  education at the time of application to the program;
               (2) [(3)]  be a Texas resident for purposes of tuition
  under Subchapter B, Chapter 54;
               (3) [(4)]  except as provided by Subsection (c),
  successfully complete at least 27 semester credit hours during the
  student's freshman year;
               (4) [(5)]  apply for admission to the program not later
  than a date, as designated by the council, that occurs during the
  fall semester of the student's sophomore year at the general
  academic teaching institution or the private or independent
  institution of higher education; and
               (5) [(6)]  meet criteria established by the council
  regarding:
                     (A)  minimum high school and undergraduate grade
  point averages;
                     (B)  financial need and any other indication of
  economic disadvantage; and
                     (C)  any other matter the council considers
  appropriate.
         SECTION 2.  The following laws are repealed:
               (1)  Subsection (b), Section 51.823, Education Code;
  and
               (2)  Subsection (c), Section 51.8265, Education Code.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
  51.826 and 51.8265, Education Code, apply beginning with applicants
  for admission to the Joint Admission Medical Program during the
  2009-2010 academic year.
         SECTION 4.  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.
 
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