H.B. No. 1054
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to developmental education programs under the Texas
  Success Initiative for public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.3062, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-1), (i), (i-4), (l), (t), and (t-1) and
  adding Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  In this section:
               (1)  "Basic academic skills education" means
  non-course competency-based developmental education programs and
  interventions designed for students whose performance falls
  significantly below college readiness standards.
               (2)  "Program[, "program] evaluation" means a
  systematic method of collecting, analyzing, and using information
  to answer questions about developmental education courses,
  interventions, and policies, particularly about their
  effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
         (f-1)  For each assessment instrument designated by the
  board for use under this section, the board shall prescribe a score
  below which a student is eligible for basic academic skills
  education.
         (i)  The institution of higher education may refer a student
  to developmental coursework, including basic academic skills
  education, as considered necessary by the institution to address a
  student's deficiencies in the student's readiness to perform
  freshman-level academic coursework, except that the institution
  may not require enrollment in developmental coursework with respect
  to a student previously determined under Subsection (q-1) or
  determined by any institution of higher education to have met
  college-readiness standards.  An institution that requires a
  student to enroll in developmental coursework must offer a range of
  developmental coursework, including online coursework, or
  instructional support that includes the integration of technology
  to efficiently address the particular developmental needs of the
  student.
         (i-4)  The board, in consultation with institutions of
  higher education, shall develop and provide professional
  development programs, including instruction in differentiated
  instruction methods designed to address students' diverse learning
  needs, to faculty and staff who provide developmental coursework,
  including basic academic skills education, to students.
         (l)  The legislature shall appropriate money for approved
  non-degree-credit developmental courses, including basic academic
  skills education, except that legislative appropriations may not be
  used for developmental coursework taken by a student in excess of:
               (1)  18 semester credit hours, for a general academic
  teaching institution; and
               (2)  27 semester credit hours, for a public junior
  college, public technical institute, or public state college.
         (t)  To allow a student to complete any necessary
  developmental coursework in the most efficient and cost-effective
  manner, the board shall encourage institutions of higher education
  to offer various types of developmental coursework that address
  various levels of deficiency in readiness to perform college
  coursework for which course credit may be earned, as determined on
  the basis of assessments as described by Subsection (f).  The types
  of developmental coursework may include:
               (1)  course-based programs;
               (2)  non-course-based programs, such as advising
  programs;
               (3)  module format programs;
               (4)  competency-based education programs; [and]
               (5)  basic academic skills education, if applicable to
  the student; and
               (6)  programs under which the student is pairing or
  taking concurrently a developmental education course and another
  course in the same subject area for which course credit may be
  earned.
         (t-1)  The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement
  this section [Subsection (t)].
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies
  beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year.
         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.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1054 was passed by the House on April
  16, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1054 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor