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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a public service requirement for |
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undergraduate students, known as Service to Texas, at public |
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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 51.310 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.310. SERVICE TO TEXAS. (a) In this section, |
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"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.003. |
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(b) To receive a baccalaureate degree or a certificate for |
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an undergraduate program requiring at least 60 semester credit |
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hours from an institution of higher education, a student must |
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perform at least 20 hours of unpaid public service while enrolled in |
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an institution of higher education in this state. The public |
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service required under this section is known as Service to Texas. |
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(c) Service to Texas must consist of activity for and under |
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the supervision of a nonprofit organization, governmental entity, |
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or other entity that benefits needy or deserving individuals or the |
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public, as determined by the institution the student attends. |
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(d) Each institution of higher education shall assign an |
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existing office to coordinate and monitor a Service to Texas |
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program to assist students to satisfy the public service |
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requirements of this section. |
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(e) Each institution of higher education, through its |
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Service to Texas program, shall develop a list of approved public |
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service organizations and entities for purposes of Subsection (c). |
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In developing and maintaining the list, an institution of higher |
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education shall: |
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(1) include on the list a broad variety of |
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organizations and entities that reflect diverse activities and |
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viewpoints; and |
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(2) permit a student to propose a specific |
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organization or entity for consideration for addition to the list. |
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(f) A student shall select one or more of the organizations |
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or entities listed as provided by Subsection (e) to supervise and |
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document the student's performance of the required public service. |
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(g) This section does not apply to a student who first |
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enrolls in an institution of higher education before September 1, |
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2014. |
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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, 2013. |