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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an optometry career program at the University of |
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Houston. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 111, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 111.43 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 111.43. OPTOMETRY CAREER PROGRAM. (a) The university |
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may operate a summer program that prepares highly qualified, |
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economically disadvantaged junior-level, senior-level, and |
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postbaccalaureate students from any public or private institution |
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of higher education for advanced studies and a career in the field |
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of optometry. The program may include: |
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(1) courses in improvement of study skills and |
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Optometry Admission Test preparation courses; |
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(2) a review of selected undergraduate academic |
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courses that are prerequisites for admission to advanced degree |
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programs in optometry; |
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(3) academic courses that are designed to familiarize |
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students with the course work in advanced degree programs in |
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optometry; |
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(4) clinical work; and |
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(5) extracurricular activities, including observing |
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professionals in the field of optometry. |
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(b) To the extent practicable, and consistent with the |
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purposes of the program, the university shall operate the program |
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in a manner that assists students in obtaining course credit for the |
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program from their respective institutions of higher education. |
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(c) The university shall: |
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(1) recruit eligible undergraduate or |
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postbaccalaureate students for admission to the program; |
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(2) establish an application process for admitting |
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eligible undergraduate or postbaccalaureate students to the |
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program; |
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(3) develop reasonable requirements for admission to |
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the program; |
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(4) monitor the implementation of the program; and |
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(5) assist in developing services, including career |
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counseling, to support and encourage the pursuit of advanced |
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studies and careers in the field of optometry. |
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(d) The university may solicit and accept gifts and grants |
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from any public or private source, including a corporation or other |
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entity, to fund a program operated as provided by this section. The |
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legislature may appropriate money for the purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |