BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1845
85R6856 KSD-D	By: Campbell
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	4/19/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The College Credit for Heroes program allows veterans and service members to turn their military work experience and military education into college credits to be used towards a college degree. Over 25,000 veterans have requested an evaluation of their service records and turned them into college credits. Participating universities in Texas have awarded an average of 16 credit hours per veteran applicant via the College Credit for Heroes evaluation.

S.B. 1845 expands the College Credit for Heroes program by tasking the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and institutions of higher education to develop a uniform and transferrable standard for the credits a veteran may receive. No longer would there be confusion or disagreement amongst Texas universities and colleges over the credits to be awarded to veterans based upon their military records. This fix will create a more seamless transition for veterans and service members as they seek to graduate from college and enter the civilian workforce.

As proposed, S.B. 1845 amends current law relating to the development of transferable degree or certificate program curricula for which qualified veterans or military service members may be awarded course credit based on military service.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.835, Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.835, as follows:

Sec. 61.835. TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDIT FOR HEROES CURRICULA. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in consultation with the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and institutions of higher education (IHEs), to promote the purposes of the College Credit for Heroes program established under Section 302.0031 (College Credit for Heroes Program), Labor Code, to:

(1) develop standardized curricula within degree and certificate programs commonly offered by IHEs toward which qualified veterans or military service members may be awarded appropriate academic credit for experience, education, and training earned during military service; and

(2) require the transferability between IHEs of course credit for curricula developed under this section that is awarded to qualified veterans or military service members.

(b) Requires THECB to adopt rules for the administration of this section.

SECTION 2. Requires THECB to adopt the initial rules required by Section 61.835, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than May 1, 2018.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.