84R6042 KSD-D
 
  By: Clardy H.B. No. 1583
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to block scheduling for associate degree and certificate
  programs at public junior colleges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 130.0095 to read as follows:
         Sec. 130.0095.  BLOCK SCHEDULING FOR ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR
  CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. (a) To facilitate timely degree completion
  by students at public junior colleges, each public junior college
  shall establish, for each associate degree or certificate program
  offered by the college, a block schedule curriculum under which:
               (1)  courses required for a student's enrollment in the
  program as a full-time student are offered each semester in
  scheduled blocks, such as a morning, full-day, afternoon, evening,
  or weekend block schedule, designed to provide scheduling
  predictability from semester to semester to students enrolled in
  the program; and
               (2)  students may enroll in an entire block schedule
  curriculum offered under the program in a semester, rather than
  enrolling in individual courses leading toward the degree or
  certificate.
         (b)  Each public junior college shall publish in advance of
  each semester the available block schedule curricula for each
  associate degree or certificate program offered by the college for
  that semester.
         (c)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
  rules as necessary for the administration of this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 130.0095, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies 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.