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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authorization for and approval of certain nursing |
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programs offered by private postsecondary educational institutions |
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or for-profit entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.302, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivisions (12) and (13) to read as follows: |
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(12) "Professional degree" includes a Doctor of |
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Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental |
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Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris |
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Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). |
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(13) “Nursing program” means a program preparing a |
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student for licensure as a licensed vocational nurse or a program |
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leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of |
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Science in Nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a |
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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.303, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(c-1) The board may not approve the issuance of a |
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certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to grant a |
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professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this |
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state are applicable toward a professional degree except to the |
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extent allowed for an authorized institution operating under a |
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State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). [In this |
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subsection, "professional degree" includes Doctor of Medicine |
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(M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental Surgery |
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(D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris Doctor |
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(J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).] |
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(c-2) The board may not approve the issuance of a |
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certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to offer a |
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nursing program or grant a nursing degree or to represent that |
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credits earned in a nursing program in this state are applicable |
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toward a nursing degree except to the extent: |
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(1) allowed for an authorized institution operating |
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under a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA); or |
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(2) determined necessary by the board. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.306(c-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The board may issue a certificate of authority for a |
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private postsecondary educational institution to grant a |
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professional degree, to offer a nursing program or grant a nursing |
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degree, or to represent that credits earned in this state are |
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applicable toward a professional or nursing degree only if the |
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board determines that: |
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(1) the capacity and ability of similar [professional |
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degree] programs at institutions of higher education and private or |
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independent institutions of higher education are insufficient to |
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meet the state's current market needs; |
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(2) the institution seeking the certificate of |
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authority: |
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(A) has the necessary faculty and other resources |
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to ensure student success; and |
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(B) is subject to and agrees to meet the same |
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standards for approval and all academic criteria applicable to |
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similar [professional degree] programs offered by institutions of |
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higher education and private or independent institutions of higher |
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education; and |
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(3) sufficient placements are available to students |
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for required field-based experience, such as clinicals or |
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clerkships, for the proposed program or [professional] degree. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.306(d), Education Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |