H.B. No. 1992
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the granting of undergraduate course credit by advanced
  placement examination at public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.968, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  In establishing the minimum required score on an
  Advanced Placement examination for granting course credit for a
  particular lower-division course under Subsection (c), an
  institution of higher education may not require a score of more than
  three unless the institution's chief academic officer determines,
  based on evidence, that a higher score on the examination is
  necessary to indicate a student is sufficiently prepared to be
  successful in a related, more advanced course for which the
  lower-division course is a prerequisite.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.0518 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0518.  STUDY ON UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT FOR
  ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS. (a) In this section, "Advanced
  Placement examination" has the meaning assigned by Section 51.968.
         (b)  The board, in consultation with institutions of higher
  education, the board's Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee,
  and other interested parties, shall conduct a study on the
  performance of undergraduate students at institutions of higher
  education who receive undergraduate course credit for achieving
  required scores on one or more Advanced Placement examinations.
         (c)  The study must compare the academic performance,
  retention rates, and graduation rates at institutions of higher
  education of students who complete a lower-division course at an
  institution and students who receive credit for that course for a
  score of three or more on an Advanced Placement examination,
  disaggregated by score.
         (d)  Each institution of higher education shall submit to the
  board any data requested by the board as necessary for the board to
  carry out its duties under this section.
         (e)  Not later than January 1, 2017, the board shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
  primary jurisdiction over higher education a progress report that
  examines the academic performance at institutions of higher
  education of students who received undergraduate course credit for
  a score of three on one or more Advanced Placement examinations and
  any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
         (f)  Not later than January 1, 2019, the board shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
  primary jurisdiction over higher education a report regarding the
  results of the study conducted under this section and any
  recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
         (g)  The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
  this section in a manner that ensures compliance with federal law
  regarding confidentiality of student educational information,
  including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20
  U.S.C. Section 1232g).
         (h)  This section expires September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 3.  Section 51.968(c-1), Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to entering freshman students at institutions of
  higher education beginning with the 2016 fall semester.
         SECTION 4.  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. 1992 was passed by the House on April
  16, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 10, 3 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1992 on May 21, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 10,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1992 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor