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AN ACT
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relating to the number of semester credit hours required to earn an |
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associate degree at public 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 C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.05151 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.05151. SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ASSOCIATE |
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DEGREE. (a) To earn an associate degree, a student may not be |
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required by an institution of higher education to complete more |
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than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the |
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degree by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its |
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successor unless the institution determines that there is a |
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compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional |
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semester credit hours for the degree. |
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(b) The board may review one or more of an institution's |
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associate degree programs to ensure compliance with this section. |
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(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an associate degree |
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awarded by an institution to a student enrolled in the institution |
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before the 2015 fall semester. This subsection does not prohibit |
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the institution from reducing the number of semester credit hours |
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the student must complete to receive the degree. |
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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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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 497 passed the Senate on |
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March 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 497 passed the House on |
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May 22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 3, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |