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            |  | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | 
         
            |  | AN ACT | 
         
            |  | relating to the accreditation of private or independent | 
         
            |  | institutions of higher education. | 
         
            |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
            |  | SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(15), Education Code, is amended | 
         
            |  | to read as follows: | 
         
            |  | (15)  "Private or independent institution of higher | 
         
            |  | education" includes only a private or independent college or | 
         
            |  | university that is: | 
         
            |  | (A)  organized under the Texas Non-Profit | 
         
            |  | Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil | 
         
            |  | Statutes); | 
         
            |  | (B)  exempt from taxation under Article VIII, | 
         
            |  | Section 2, of the Texas Constitution and Section 501(c)(3) of the | 
         
            |  | Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501); and | 
         
            |  | (C)  accredited by: | 
         
            |  | (i)  the Commission on Colleges of the | 
         
            |  | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; | 
         
            |  | (ii)  the Liaison Committee on Medical | 
         
            |  | Education; [ or] | 
         
            |  | (iii)  the American Bar Association; or | 
         
            |  | (iv)  a recognized accrediting agency. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |