BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1938

By: Capriglione

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law prohibits a college or university receiving state funding from granting a bachelor's degree or a lesser degree or an academic certificate to a student unless the student earns six semester hours or its equivalent in American History, with partial satisfaction of these hours allowed for Texas History courses. Interested parties have raised concerns about the narrow scope of some of the history classes that currently count towards this requirement. H.B. 1938 seeks to reinforce the original intent of these requirements by specifying that the classes offer a comprehensive survey of these subjects.

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. 1938 amends the Education Code to specify that the American History credit a person must have before that person may be granted a bachelor's degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate from a college or university receiving state support or state aid from public funds be for courses providing a comprehensive survey of American History and to specify that the Texas History credit a student is entitled to submit in partial satisfaction of this requirement be for courses providing a comprehensive survey of Texas History. The bill's provisions apply only to the curriculum requirements established for a degree or certificate program offered by an institution of higher education beginning with undergraduate students who initially enroll in the institution for the 2014 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.