86R33574 KJE-D
	By: West, et al.	S.B. No. 25
	(Turner of Tarrant, Stucky, Howard, Frullo, Walle, et al.)
	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 25:  No.

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress,
	and timely graduation of students in public higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 51.400, 51.4033, and 51.4034 to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 51.400.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
	Education Coordinating Board.
	(2)  "General academic teaching institution,"
	"institution of higher education," and "public junior college" have
	the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
	Sec. 51.4033.  REPORT OF NONTRANSFERABLE CREDIT. (a) Not
	later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by the
	coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution
	shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a
	report describing any courses in the Lower-Division Academic Course
	Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board for
	which a student who transfers to the institution from another
	institution of higher education is not granted:
	(1)  academic credit at the receiving institution; or
	(2)  if the student has declared a major and has not
	changed majors, academic credit toward the student's major at the
	receiving institution.
	(b)  A report required by this section must indicate:
	(1)  the course name and type;
	(2)  which institution of higher education provided
	academic credit for the course; and
	(3)  the reason why the receiving institution did not
	grant academic credit for the course as described by Subsection
	(a).
	Sec. 51.4034.  REPORT OF COURSES TAKEN AT JUNIOR COLLEGES.
	(a) Not later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed
	by the coordinating board, each public junior college shall provide
	to the coordinating board and the legislature a report on courses
	taken by students who, during the preceding academic year,
	transferred to a general academic teaching institution or earned an
	associate degree at the college.
	(b)  A report required by this section must include the total
	number of:
	(1)  courses attempted and completed at the college,
	including the total number of semester credit hours for those
	courses, disaggregated by whether the course is in:
	(A)  the Workforce Education Course Manual or its
	successor adopted by the coordinating board; or
	(B)  the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide
	Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board;
	(2)  courses attempted and completed at the college
	that are not in the recommended core curriculum developed by the
	coordinating board under Section 61.822; and
	(3)  dual credit courses, including courses for joint
	high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008,
	attempted and completed at the college.
	SECTION 2.  Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
	(j)  In adopting a form under this section, the board shall
	ensure that an applicant may indicate on the form the applicant's
	consent to an institution of higher education to which the
	applicant submits an application for admission to a particular
	degree program using the form to, if the institution denies the
	applicant admission to that degree program, provide the applicant's
	application to other institutions of higher education that offer
	the degree program.
	SECTION 3.  Section 51.9685(a)(2), Education Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(2)  "Institution of higher education" has [and "public
	junior college" have] the meaning [meanings] assigned by Section
	61.003.
	SECTION 4.  Section 51.9685, Education Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (b), (c), and (g) and adding Subsection (c-2)
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each
	student enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an
	institution of higher education shall file a degree plan with the
	institution after the 12th class day but before [not later than] the
	end of the [second regular] semester or term immediately following
	the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total
	of 30 [45] or more semester credit hours for coursework
	successfully completed by the student, including transfer courses,
	international baccalaureate courses, dual credit courses, and any
	other course for which the institution the student attends has
	awarded the student college course credit, including course credit
	awarded by examination.
	(c)  A student to whom Subsection (b) [this section] applies
	who begins the student's first semester or term at an institution of
	higher education with 30 [45] or more semester credit hours of
	course credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a
	degree plan with the institution after the 12th class day but before
	[not later than] the end of that [the student's second regular]
	semester or term [at the institution].
	(c-2)  A student enrolled in a dual credit course at an
	institution of higher education and to whom Subsection (b) does not
	apply shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than:
	(1)  the end of the second regular semester or term
	immediately following the semester or term in which the student
	earned a cumulative total of 15 or more semester credit hours of
	course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the
	student; or
	(2)  if the student begins the student's first semester
	or term at the institution with 15 or more semester credit hours of
	course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the
	student, the end of the student's second regular semester or term at
	the institution.
	(g)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
	consultation with institutions of higher education, shall [may]
	adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section,
	including rules to ensure compliance with this section.  In
	adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the
	negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
	Code.
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853 to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 51.96852.  RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) In this
	section:
	(1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
	Education Coordinating Board.
	(2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
	assigned by Section 61.003.
	(b)  Each institution of higher education shall develop at
	least one recommended course sequence for each undergraduate
	certificate or degree program offered by the institution. Each
	recommended course sequence must:
	(1)  identify all required lower-division courses for
	the applicable certificate or degree program;
	(2)  include for each course, if applicable:
	(A)  the course number or course equivalent under
	the common course numbering system approved by the coordinating
	board under Section 61.832; and
	(B)  the course equivalent in the Lower-Division
	Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the
	coordinating board;
	(3)  be designed to enable a full-time student to
	obtain a certificate or degree, as applicable, within:
	(A)  for a 60-hour degree or certificate program,
	two years; or
	(B)  for a 120-hour degree program, four years;
	and
	(4)  include a specific sequence in which courses
	should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program
	within the time frame described by Subdivision (3).
	(c)  Each institution of higher education shall:
	(1)  include the recommended course sequences
	developed under this section in the institution's course catalog
	and on the institution's Internet website; and
	(2)  submit the recommended course sequences developed
	under this section to the coordinating board as provided by
	coordinating board rule.
	(d)  The coordinating board, in consultation with
	institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules as necessary
	for the administration of this section. In adopting those rules,
	the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking
	procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.
	Sec. 51.96853.  TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION
	INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS.
	(a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Articulation agreement" means a formal written
	agreement between a lower-division institution of higher education
	and a general academic teaching institution identifying courses
	offered by the lower-division institution that must be accepted for
	credit toward specific course requirements at the general academic
	teaching institution.
	(2)  "General academic teaching institution" and
	"institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by
	Section 61.003.
	(3)  "Lower-division institution of higher education"
	means a public junior college, public state college, or public
	technical institute, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003.
	(b)  Each general academic teaching institution may enter
	into an articulation agreement with a lower-division institution of
	higher education for a certificate or degree program for which
	students transferring from the lower-division institution to the
	general academic teaching institution receive transfer credit.
	(c)  An articulation agreement entered into under Subsection
	(b) on or after September 1, 2019, may use field of study curricula
	developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
	Section 61.823.
	(d)  A general academic teaching institution may extend an
	existing articulation agreement entered into under Subsection (b)
	to another lower-division institution of higher education with
	respect to the transfer of courses from that lower-division
	institution of higher education to the general academic teaching
	institution, on request by that lower-division institution of
	higher education.
	(e)  An articulation agreement established under this
	section may enable a transfer student to receive up to 60 semester
	credit hours for courses completed at the lower-division
	institution of higher education.
	(f)  A general academic teaching institution's participation
	in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the
	institution's admissions policies.
	SECTION 6.  Section 51.9715, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
	follows:
	(a-1)  An institution of higher education, or a school
	district that offers international baccalaureate courses, dual
	credit courses, or any other course for which an institution of
	higher education may award students enrolled at the district
	college course credit, including course credit awarded by
	examination, may release student information to an institution of
	higher education for purposes of transferring course credit to that
	institution or enabling the awarding of course credit by that
	institution, in accordance with federal law regarding the
	confidentiality of student information, including the Family
	Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section
	1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student
	information.
	(b)  An institution of higher education or school district
	may release student information in accordance with Subsection (a)
	or (a-1), as applicable, through:
	(1)  the National Student Clearinghouse; or
	(2)  a similar [national] electronic data sharing and
	exchange platform operated by an agent of the institution or
	district that meets nationally accepted standards, conventions,
	and practices.
	SECTION 7.  Section 61.059(p), Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(p)  In its instruction and operations formula applicable to
	an institution of higher education, the board may not include any
	semester credit hours earned for dual course credit by a high school
	student for high school and college credit at the institution
	unless those credit hours are earned through any of the following:
	(1)  a course in the core curriculum of the institution
	providing course credit;
	(2)  a course offered by the institution providing
	course credit in:
	(A)  a field of study curriculum developed by the
	board under Section 61.823; or
	(B)  a program of study curriculum established by
	the board under Section 61.8235;
	(3)  a career and technical education course that
	applies to any certificate or associate's degree offered by the
	institution providing course credit; or
	(4) [(3)]  a foreign language course.
	SECTION 8.  Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows:
	Sec. 61.8221.  STUDY AND REPORT ON CORE CURRICULUM. (a) The
	board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the
	legislature regarding the feasibility of implementing statewide
	meta majors for institutions of higher education.
	(b)  The board shall establish an advisory committee to
	assist the board in completing the board's duties under this
	section and provide the board with subject matter expertise and
	analysis.  The advisory committee consists of the following members
	appointed by the board:
	(1)  representatives of public junior colleges
	designated by the applicable college to represent the college on
	the advisory committee; and
	(2)  representatives of general academic teaching
	institutions designated by the applicable institution to represent
	the institution on the advisory committee.
	(c)  A majority of members appointed to the advisory
	committee under Subsection (b)(2) must be representatives of a
	general academic teaching institution at which at least 25 percent
	of students enrolled at the institution for the 2018 fall semester
	were classified as transfer students.
	(d)  In appointing members to the advisory committee under
	Subsection (b), the board shall, to the greatest extent
	practicable, ensure that the membership of the advisory committee
	is balanced with respect to:
	(1)  institutional representation, including:
	(A)  the regions of the state;
	(B)  the mission type of the general academic
	teaching institution or public junior college;
	(C)  university system affiliation, as
	applicable;
	(D)  student enrollment; and
	(E)  institutional groupings under the board's
	higher education accountability system;
	(2)  representation of faculty and administrators at
	general academic teaching institutions or public junior colleges;
	(3)  representation of academic disciplines; and
	(4)  any other factors the board determines relevant.
	(e)  The advisory committee shall study and make
	recommendations to the board regarding the effectiveness of the
	requirements regarding the transfer of course credit between
	institutions of higher education for courses in the core curriculum
	under Section 61.822 in supporting more efficient undergraduate
	transfer between institutions of higher education. The study and
	recommendations must include an analysis of:
	(1)  the efficacy of dividing the recommended core
	curriculum for each meta major into a general academic core
	curriculum and an academic discipline core curriculum and, if
	determined to be efficacious, the recommended number of semester
	credit hours for each component of the recommended core curriculum
	for each meta major;
	(2)  methods to ensure that courses completed in the
	general academic core curriculum and academic discipline core
	curriculum transfer between institutions of higher education for
	course credit applied toward a student's major at the receiving
	institution; and
	(3)  the potential inclusion of courses in the field of
	study curricula adopted by the board under Section 61.823 in the
	recommended core curriculum adopted by the board under Section
	61.822.
	(f)  Each quarter ending before November 1, 2020, the board
	shall submit to the chairs of the standing legislative committees
	with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the
	board's progress on the study and recommendations required under
	Subsection (a).
	(g)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit
	to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
	representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
	primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the results
	of the study conducted under Subsection (a) and any recommendations
	for legislative or other action.
	(h)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
	SECTION 9.  Section 61.827, Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 61.827.  RULES.  (a)  The board is authorized to adopt
	rules implementing the provisions of this subchapter.
	(b)  In adopting rules regarding the recommended core
	curriculum developed under Section 61.822, the board shall use the
	negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
	Code.
	SECTION 10.  Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  In complying with the requirements regarding the filing
	of a degree plan under [Notwithstanding] Section 51.9685, [before
	the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following
	the semester or term in which] a student enrolled [successfully
	completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for
	coursework] in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree
	program established under this section[, the student] must meet
	with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan[, as defined by
	Section 51.9685(a)(1),] that:
	(1)  accounts for all remaining credit hours required
	for the completion of the degree program; and
	(2)  emphasizes:
	(A)  the student's transition to a particular
	four-year college or university that the student chooses; and
	(B)  preparations for the student's intended
	field of study or major at the four-year college or university.
	SECTION 11.  Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
	repealed.
	SECTION 12.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
	this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
	academic year.
	(b)  Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853, Education Code, as
	added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic
	year.
	SECTION 13.  Each public institution of higher education
	required to submit a report under Section 51.4033 or 51.4034,
	Education Code, as added by this Act, shall submit the first report
	not later than March 1, 2021.
	SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
	receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
	house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
	If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
	effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.