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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of a diploma to a student graduating from a |
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public institution of higher education that has undergone a merger, |
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acquisition, or name change. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.995 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.995. DIPLOMA DESIGNATION IN EVENT OF MERGER, |
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ACQUISITION, OR NAME CHANGE. (a) In this section, "institution of |
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higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), if, during the period of a |
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student's enrollment at an institution of higher education, the |
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institution merges with or is acquired by another postsecondary |
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educational institution or changes the institution's name, the |
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institution shall provide to the student on the student's |
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graduation from the institution two diplomas as follows: |
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(1) one diploma in the same style, design, or format, |
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including symbols or other insignia, designating the original name |
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of the institution on the date the student initially enrolled; and |
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(2) one diploma designating the name of the |
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institution after the merger, acquisition, or name change. |
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(c) A student is eligible to receive two diplomas under this |
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section only if the student graduates from the institution of |
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higher education within six years of the merger, acquisition, or |
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name change. |
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(d) An institution of higher education may not charge a |
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student an additional fee to receive a diploma under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.995, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with a diploma provided by a public |
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institution of higher education to a student for the 2025-2026 |
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academic year. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2025. |