BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1189

By: Seliger

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest that all public junior colleges should offer a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program in which students take the college's core curriculum and then additional courses tailored to the student's intended transfer to a four-year college or university. C.S.S.B. 1189 seeks to establish such a program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1189 amends the Education Code to require the governing board of each public junior college district to establish a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program at each junior college in the district, to be offered beginning with the 2016 fall semester. The bill requires a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program to require a student to successfully complete the junior college's core curriculum and, after completion of the core curriculum, the courses selected by the student in the student's degree plan. The bill requires a student, before the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which the student successfully completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for coursework in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program, to meet with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan that accounts for all remaining credit hours required for the completion of the degree program and emphasizes the student's transition to a particular four-year college or university that the student chooses and preparations for the student's intended field of study or major at the four-year college or university.

C.S.S.B. 1189 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date as necessary for the administration of the bill's provisions, including rules ensuring that a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program is established at each public junior college and that the common admission application form contains a description of multidisciplinary studies associate degree programs. The bill authorizes the coordinating board to adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 1189 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

SENATE ENGROSSED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130.0104 to read as follows: Sec. 130.0104. TRANSFER ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) The governing board of each public junior college district shall establish a transfer associate degree program at each junior college in the district. (b) A transfer associate degree program established at a junior college under this section must require a student to successfully complete: (1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under Section 61.822(b); and (2) after completion of the core curriculum under Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c). (c) Notwithstanding Section 51.9685, before the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which a student successfully completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for coursework in a transfer associate degree program established under this section, the student must meet with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan, as defined by Section 51.9685(a)(1), that: (1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required for the completion of the degree program; and (2) emphasizes: (A) the student's transition to a particular four-year college or university that the student chooses; and (B) preparations for the student's intended field of study or major at the four-year college or university. (d) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section, including rules ensuring that: (1) a transfer associate degree program is established at each public junior college; and (2) the common application form adopted under Section 51.762 contains a description of transfer associate degree programs established under this section.	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130.0104 to read as follows: Sec. 130.0104. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) The governing board of each public junior college district shall establish a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program at each junior college in the district. (b) A multidisciplinary studies associate degree program established at a junior college under this section must require a student to successfully complete: (1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under Section 61.822(b); and (2) after completion of the core curriculum under Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c). (c) Notwithstanding Section 51.9685, before the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which a student successfully completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for coursework in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program established under this section, the student must meet with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan, as defined by Section 51.9685(a)(1), that: (1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required for the completion of the degree program; and (2) emphasizes: (A) the student's transition to a particular four-year college or university that the student chooses; and (B) preparations for the student's intended field of study or major at the four-year college or university. (d) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section, including rules ensuring that: (1) a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program is established at each public junior college; and (2) the common application form adopted under Section 51.762 contains a description of multidisciplinary studies associate degree programs established under this section.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 130.0104, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules. (b) The governing board of each public junior college district shall offer a transfer associate degree program at each junior college in the district as required by Section 130.0104, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2016 fall semester.	SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 130.0104, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules. (b) The governing board of each public junior college district shall offer a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program at each junior college in the district as required by Section 130.0104, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2016 fall semester.
SECTION 3. 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, 2015.	SECTION 3. Same as engrossed version.