86R13351 KJE-F
 
  By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 4019
 
 
 
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.  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 2.  Sections 51.9685(b), (c), and (g), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each
  student enrolled at an institution of higher education in an
  associate or bachelor's degree program or a course for joint high
  school and junior college credit under Section 130.008 [at an
  institution of higher education] shall file a degree plan with the
  institution not later than the first day of 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 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 not later than the 12th class day [end] of
  that [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.
         SECTION 3.  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 4.  Section 61.821(1), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (1)  "Core curriculum" means the lower division
  curriculum in liberal arts, humanities, and sciences and political,
  social, and cultural history that provides the knowledge and
  academic competencies foundational for all future learning and that
  all undergraduate students of an institution of higher education
  are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate
  degree.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 61.822(b) and (c), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (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
  must:
               (1)  consist of general education courses that:
                     (A)  are selected for inclusion in the core
  curriculum based on a coherent rationale; and
                     (B)  ensure a breadth of knowledge rather than
  being narrowly focused on knowledge or competencies specific to a
  certain profession or discipline;
               (2)  [shall] be consistent with the common course
  numbering system approved by the board; and
               (3)  be approved by the board in accordance 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.]
         (c)  If a student successfully completes the 42-hour core
  curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of
  courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher
  education and must be substituted for the receiving institution's
  core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each
  of the courses transferred and may not be required to take
  additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution
  [unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at the
  institution].
         SECTION 6.  Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  A public junior college or public technical institute
  shall adopt in whole or in part each field of study curriculum
  developed by the board under this section for an academic area in
  which the college or institute offers courses.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 61.8231 and 61.8232 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.8231.  META-MAJOR ACADEMIC PATHWAYS. (a) To assist
  in advising students regarding the selection of courses aligned
  with the student's academic and career goals, the board shall
  develop a meta-major academic pathway for each broad academic
  discipline that consists of a set of courses commonly required by
  institutions of higher education for that discipline that are:
               (1)  in the core curriculum recommended by the board
  under Section 61.822; or
               (2)  the applicable field of study curriculum developed
  by the board under Section 61.823.
         (b)  The board shall make the meta-major academic pathways
  available to each institution of higher education for use in
  advising students enrolled at the institution.
         Sec. 61.8232.  STUDY ON TRANSFER ADMISSION GUARANTEE. (a)  
  The board shall conduct a study on the feasibility of guaranteeing
  transfer admission to an institution of higher education for
  students who complete certain courses in the core curriculum or a
  field of study curriculum at another institution of higher
  education.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the board shall submit
  to the members of the legislature a report on the results of the
  study and recommendations for legislative or other action. The
  report must include recommendations regarding eligibility criteria
  for a student to receive or an institution of higher education to
  participate in the transfer admission guarantee.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 8.  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 9.  Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 10.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  academic year.
         SECTION 11.  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.