BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3165
	By: Oliverson et al. (Creighton)
	Higher Education
	5/7/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Summary:

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In 2015, Lone Star College created the Lifepath program to serve students with disabilities that impact executive functioning. Lifepath is a special program that allows students to earn certificates in foundation occupational studies, business operations, or any certifications or licenses for a chosen field of study. This bill will create a specialized occupational and life skills associate's degree.

 

Issue:

 

Currently, Lone Star College can only award Lifepath students with a certificate upon their graduation. Some believe that allowing these students to earn an associate's degree for their work will help to make them even more marketable to potential employers.

 

Solution:

 

This bill will allow Lone Star College to create an occupational and life skills associate's degree program. Permitting these students, who might not otherwise be able to continue their education, to earn an associate's degree will allow them to find employment in fields in which they can build a career.

 

H.B. 3165 amends current law relating to an occupational and life skills associate degree program offered by the Lone Star College System District.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 130.0106, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends �Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Section 130.0106, as follows:

 

Sec. 130.0106. OCCUPATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the governing board of the Lone Star College System District to establish an occupational and life skills associate degree program at each junior college in the district.

 

(b) Requires an occupational and life skills associate degree program established at a junior college under this section to require a student to successfully complete an appropriate curriculum of required courses for the degree program adopted by the governing board of the junior college district and additional courses selected by the student in the student's degree plan.

 

(c) Provides that Section 61.05151(a) (relating to semester hour requirements of an associate's degree) does not apply to an associate degree program established under this section.

 

(d) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.