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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic |
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standards, and employment decisions in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.3095 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.3095. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION |
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COURSEWORK AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVISIONS. (a) In this section, |
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"medical school" means: |
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(1) a medical school as defined by Section 61.501; or |
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(2) any other institution of higher education, as |
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defined by Section 61.003, or school, department, or college of |
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such an institution, that awards medical degrees. |
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(b) Each medical school: |
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(1) shall ensure that any coursework offered in the |
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curriculum required for a medical degree or certificate assesses a |
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student's performance on the coursework based on the assignment of |
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a letter grade from A to F; and |
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(2) may not offer coursework described by Subdivision |
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(1), including any assignment or other component of the coursework, |
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on a pass/fail basis. |
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(c) Except as required to comply with state or federal law, |
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a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the award |
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of a degree or certificate unless the medical school submits to the |
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legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: |
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(1) a copy of the proposed standards; |
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(2) a concise general statement of the reasons for the |
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proposed standards; and |
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(3) the date on which the proposed standards would |
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become effective. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter W, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.8425 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.8425. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL |
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SCHOOL ADMISSION. (a) In this section, "medical school" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 51.3095. |
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(b) In making admissions decisions for a medical degree or |
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certificate program, a medical school shall consider an applicant's |
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performance on a standardized test appropriate for the program that |
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focuses on knowledge of and critical thinking applicable to science |
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and medical practice, except that the applicant's performance on |
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the standardized test may not be used as the sole criterion for |
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consideration of the applicant. |
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(c) Except as required to comply with state or federal law, |
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a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the |
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admission of a student to the medical school or to a degree or |
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certificate program unless the medical school submits to the |
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legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: |
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(1) a copy of the proposed standards; |
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(2) a concise general statement of the reasons for the |
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proposed standards; and |
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(3) the date on which the proposed standards would |
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become effective. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9247 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9247. CONSIDERATION OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY, |
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OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT |
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DECISIONS PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "medical school" has |
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the meaning assigned by Section 51.3095. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a medical |
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school may not grant preference on the basis of race, sex, color, |
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ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant: |
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(1) for admission to the medical school or to a degree |
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or certificate program; or |
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(2) for employment by the medical school. |
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(c) Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting |
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bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary |
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to the normal operation of a medical school. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to admissions |
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at medical schools apply beginning with admissions for the 2026 |
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spring semester. Admissions for an academic period preceding that |
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semester are governed by the law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |