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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the accreditation by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board of competency-based education degree plans for |
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members of the Texas military forces. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0521 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0521. ACCREDITATION OF COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION |
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DEGREE PLANS FOR MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES. (a) In this |
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section, "Texas military forces" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 437.001, Government Code. |
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(b) The board shall accredit, or otherwise approve an |
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accrediting organization recognized by the board to accredit, a |
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degree plan offered in coordination with the Texas Military |
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Department that uses alternative methods of determining mastery of |
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program content, including competency-based education. |
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(c) To be eligible for a degree accredited under this |
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section, a person must: |
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(1) have graduated from high school or received the |
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equivalent of a high school diploma; |
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(2) satisfy the minimum active military service |
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obligation to the Texas military forces for a degree plan as |
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follows: |
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(A) for an associate degree, two years of |
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service; |
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(B) for a baccalaureate degree, four years of |
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service; and |
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(C) for a graduate degree, six years of service; |
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and |
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(3) complete and meet the standards of the degree |
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plan. |
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(d) The board shall propose rules to establish requirements |
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under which a person's training and experience acquired during the |
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person's military service serves as proof of the person's |
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demonstration of subject matter knowledge if that training and |
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experience are verified by the Texas Military Department. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the |
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accreditation of competency-based education degree plans for |
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members of the Texas military forces established under Section |
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61.0521, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with degree plans |
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offered for enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |