84R10049 JSL-F
 
  By: Raney H.B. No. 3367
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of state authorization reciprocity
  agreements for postsecondary distance learning courses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.401(2), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (2)  "Coordinating board [Board]" means the Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board[, Texas College and University
  System].
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.402, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.402.  REQUISITE APPROVAL. (a) Public institutions
  of higher education established outside the boundaries of the State
  of Texas must have the approval of the coordinating board before
  offering a course or a grouping of courses within the State of
  Texas.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a public institution of
  higher education may offer a course within this state without the
  approval of the coordinating board if the course is provided in
  accordance with a state authorization reciprocity agreement
  established under Section 61.406.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.404, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.404.  PROCEDURES IN CASE OF VIOLATION. If the
  coordinating board obtains evidence that a public institution of
  higher education established outside the boundaries of the State of
  Texas is in apparent violation of this subchapter or of rules and
  regulations adopted pursuant to this subchapter, the coordinating
  board shall take appropriate action to terminate its operation
  within the boundaries of the State of Texas regardless of whether
  the institution participates in a state authorization reciprocity
  agreement established under Section 61.406.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter H, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.406 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.406.  STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT.
  (a) The coordinating board on behalf of the state may enter into a
  state authorization reciprocity agreement among states, districts,
  and territories regarding the delivery of postsecondary distance
  education that establishes comparable standards for the provision
  of distance education by degree-granting postsecondary educational
  institutions in each of the states, districts, or territories
  covered by the agreement to students of the other states,
  districts, or territories covered under the agreement.  The board  
  shall apply to an appropriate regional organization for that
  purpose.
         (b)  The coordinating board shall administer an agreement
  entered into under this section, including by establishing:
               (1)  an application and approval process for a
  degree-granting postsecondary educational institution with its
  principal campus located in this state to participate under the
  agreement; and
               (2)  a dispute resolution procedure for complaints
  regarding participating postsecondary educational institutions
  located in this state.
         SECTION 5.  Not later than September 1, 2016, the Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop and submit to the
  Southern Regional Education Board or other appropriate regional
  organization a plan and application for entering into a state
  authorization reciprocity agreement.
         SECTION 6.  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.