Bill Text: TX SB2135 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the course information required to be posted on a public institution of higher education's Internet website; providing an administrative penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-21 - Referred to s/c on Higher Education by Pres [SB2135 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2135-Introduced.html
2023S0162-1 02/16/23 | ||
By: Kolkhorst | S.B. No. 2135 |
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relating to the course information required to be posted on a public | ||
institution of higher education's Internet website; providing an | ||
administrative penalty. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 51.974, Education Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (a), (b), (f), and (g) and adding Subsections | ||
(f-1) and (f-2) to read as follows: | ||
(a) Each institution of higher education, other than a | ||
medical and dental unit, as defined by Section 61.003, shall make | ||
available to the public on the institution's Internet website the | ||
following information for each [ |
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offered for credit by the institution: | ||
(1) a syllabus that: | ||
(A) satisfies any standards adopted by the | ||
institution; | ||
(B) provides a brief description of each major | ||
course requirement, including each major assignment and | ||
examination; | ||
(C) lists any required or recommended reading; | ||
and | ||
(D) provides a general description of the subject | ||
matter of each lecture or discussion; | ||
(2) a curriculum vitae of each regular instructor that | ||
lists the instructor's: | ||
(A) postsecondary education; | ||
(B) teaching experience; and | ||
(C) significant professional publications; and | ||
(3) if available, a departmental budget report of the | ||
department under which the course is offered, from the most recent | ||
semester or other academic term during which the institution | ||
offered the course. | ||
(b) The information required by Subsection (a) must be: | ||
(1) accessible from the institution's Internet website | ||
home page [ |
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(2) clearly labeled as "public course and syllabus | ||
information"; | ||
(3) searchable by keywords and phrases; and | ||
(4) [ |
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registration or use of a user name, a password, or another user | ||
identification. | ||
(f) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, each | ||
institution of higher education shall submit a written report | ||
regarding the institution's compliance with this section to the | ||
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of | ||
representatives, [ |
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standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher | ||
education, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. | ||
(f-1) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall | ||
monitor each institution of higher education to determine whether | ||
the institution is in substantial compliance with this section and | ||
make available to the public on the coordinating board's Internet | ||
website: | ||
(1) a list indicating whether each institution of | ||
higher education is in substantial compliance with this section; | ||
and | ||
(2) a copy of each report submitted to the | ||
coordinating board under Subsection (f). | ||
(f-2) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall | ||
assess an administrative penalty of $5,000 against an institution | ||
of higher education that violates Subsections (a) or (b). Each day | ||
the violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for | ||
purposes of assessing a penalty. | ||
(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt | ||
rules necessary to administer this section, including rules to: | ||
(1) ensure substantial compliance with this section; | ||
and | ||
(2) assess administrative penalties under Subsection | ||
(f-2). | ||
SECTION 2. Section 51.974, Education Code, as amended by | ||
this Act, applies beginning with the 2024 spring semester. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |