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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain public institutions of higher |
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education to offer programs and courses in junior college district |
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service areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 130.161, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows: |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 130.1615 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.1615. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER TO PROGRAMS AND |
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COURSES OFFERED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) |
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This subchapter does not prohibit, restrict, or limit the authority |
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of an institution of higher education, other than a junior college |
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district, to offer a degree or certificate program in a service area |
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designated in this subchapter. |
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(b) A junior college district may not object to the |
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implementation of a program or course offered by an institution of |
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higher education, other than an institution of higher education |
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that is another junior college district, solely on the basis that |
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the program or course is offered in the objecting junior college |
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district's service area. |
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(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may not |
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approve or disapprove a new degree or certificate program, or the |
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continuation of an existing degree or certificate program, solely |
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on the basis that the program is offered or proposed to be offered |
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in a junior college district's service area. This subsection does |
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not apply to the approval or disapproval of a program offered or |
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proposed to be offered by a junior college district in the service |
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area of another junior college district. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 135.04(b) and (c) and Section |
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135.102(c), Education Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2023. |