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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report regarding authorizing certain public |
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junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs to address |
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regional workforce needs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 130.0013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.0013. STUDY AND REPORT; BACCALAUREATE DEGREE |
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PROGRAMS AUTHORITY. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall conduct a study of regional workforce needs in this |
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state to determine the regions of the state that would benefit from |
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the authorization of baccalaureate degree programs at public junior |
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colleges serving the region and appropriate metrics for determining |
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whether a public junior college should offer those degree programs. |
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In conducting its study, the coordinating board shall consult with |
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at least one representative of each of the following: |
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(1) four-year institutions of higher education; |
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(2) two-year institutions of higher education; |
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(3) regional businesses; |
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(4) professional associations; and |
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(5) any other entity the commissioner of higher |
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education considers appropriate. |
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(b) In conducting its study under this section, the |
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coordinating board shall consider the following factors in regard |
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to a public junior college: |
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(1) the need for the baccalaureate degree program in |
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the region served by the public junior college; |
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(2) how the degree program would complement or |
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conflict with the other programs and course offerings of the public |
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junior college; |
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(3) whether the degree program would unnecessarily |
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duplicate a degree program offered by other institutions of higher |
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education; |
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(4) whether an institution of higher education located |
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in the same region as the public junior college has the capacity to |
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offer the degree program; |
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(5) the ability of the public junior college to |
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support the degree program, including the adequacy of the public |
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junior college's facilities, faculty, administration, libraries, |
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and other resources; |
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(6) the feasibility of the public junior college |
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offering the degree program in collaboration with a general |
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academic teaching institution under an articulation agreement; |
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(7) the cost of the degree program to students |
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enrolled in the program; |
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(8) the availability and method of state funding to |
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support the degree program; |
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(9) the current licensure and accreditation standards |
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under which the public junior college operates and the processes |
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necessary to offer a baccalaureate degree program; and |
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(10) any other metric the coordinating board considers |
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relevant. |
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(c) Not later than June 1, 2014, the coordinating board |
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shall submit to each legislative standing committee with primary |
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jurisdiction over higher education the results of its study under |
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this section and recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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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. |
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