By: Seliger, Zaffirini  S.B. No. 497
         (In the Senate - Filed February 11, 2013; February 13, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  March 11, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6,
  Nays 0; March 11, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the number of semester credit hours required to earn an
  associate degree at public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.05151 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.05151.  SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ASSOCIATE
  DEGREE. (a)  To earn an associate degree, a student may not be
  required by an institution of higher education to complete more
  than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the
  degree by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its
  successor unless the institution determines that there is a
  compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional
  semester credit hours for the degree.
         (b)  The board may review one or more of an institution's
  associate degree programs to ensure compliance with this section.
         (c)  Subsection (a) does not apply to an associate degree
  awarded by an institution to a student enrolled in the institution
  before the 2015 fall semester.  This subsection does not prohibit
  the institution from reducing the number of semester credit hours
  the student must complete to receive the degree.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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