BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 774

By: Guillen

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, students who attend community college and then transfer to a general academic teaching institution are eligible to obtain an associate's degree from the previously-attended community college after completing, among other requirements, a minimum of 90 cumulative credit hours. This prevents students from being able to receive an associate's degree until junior year or later. H.B. 774 seeks to address this issue by easing the requirements to receive such a degree.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 774 amends the Education Code to decrease from 90 credit hours to 66 credit hours, beginning with the 2013 fall semester, the minimum number of cumulative credit hours required to be successfully completed by a student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution before that credit may be applied to an associate's degree to be awarded by a lower-division institution of higher education previously attended by the student, provided other conditions are met by the student.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.