Bill Text: TX HB2078 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the coordination of the transfer of course credit between public institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-03 - Left pending in committee [HB2078 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2078-Introduced.html

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86R6097 JRJ-D
By: Lozano H.B. No. 2078

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the coordination of the transfer of course credit
between public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (f) and (g)
to read as follows:
(a) The board shall develop and implement a policy regarding
[encourage] the transferability of lower division course credit
among institutions of higher education.
(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including
specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum
shall be consistent with the common course numbering system
approved by the board under Section 61.832 and with the statement,
recommendations, and rules issued by the board. An institution may
have a core curriculum of other than 42 semester credit hours only
if approved by the board.
(f) The board shall establish a database and collect
information as determined by the board to annually identify the 25
degree programs that have the greatest transfer student enrollment.
Each general academic teaching institution shall identify for each
of those degree programs:
(1) a list of the lower-division courses offered by
institutions of higher education that are considered by the board
to be general academic transfer courses that may be offered for
state funding by public junior colleges, public state colleges, and
public technical institutes;
(2) the required courses for the degree program that
satisfy the core curriculum requirements at the institution; and
(3) any additional lower-division requirements for
the degree program at the institution.
(g) Courses identified by a general academic teaching
institution under Subsection (f) are only required to be applied to
the appropriate degree program for a student in the period of the
institution's course catalog beginning with the student's first
enrollment in an institution of higher education.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year.
SECTION 3. 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.