By: Harris, Dominguez, Ellzey H.B. No. 885

(Senate Sponsor - Birdwell)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2021; April 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 21, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 885 By: Taylor

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the requirements for a junior college district to receive approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer baccalaureate degree programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 130.307, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a [A] public junior college may offer a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter only if its junior college district:

(1) had a taxable property valuation amount of not less than $6 billion in the preceding year; and

(2) received a positive assessment of the overall financial health of the district as reported by the coordinating board.

(b-1) The requirement of Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to a public junior college for the purpose of offering a baccalaureate degree program in nursing approved under Section 130.308 if its junior college district:

(1) has a taxable property valuation amount of not less than $4 billion in the preceding year; and

(2) does not have a four-year institution of higher education located in a county in which the district is located.

SECTION 2. 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, 2021.

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