85R3196 KSD-F     By: Wu H.B. No. 3105       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 Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.96852 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.96852.  TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION   INSTITUTIONS; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Articulation agreement" means a formal written   agreement between a public junior college and a general academic   teaching institution identifying courses offered by the public   junior college that must be accepted for credit toward specific   course requirements at the general academic teaching institution.                (2)  "Lower-division institution of higher education"   means a public junior college, public state college, or public   technical institute.                (3)  "Public junior college" and "general academic   teaching institution" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.          (b)  Each general academic teaching institution shall:                (1)  publish on the institution's Internet website for   use by prospective undergraduate students a detailed description   developed by the institution's faculty of the learning objectives,   content, and prior knowledge requirements for at least 12 courses   offered by the institution for which credit is frequently   transferred to the institution from lower-division institutions of   higher education;                (2)  identify the public junior colleges from which the   general academic teaching institution regularly receives transfer   students; and                (3)  establish, for at least five degree plans for   which credit is frequently transferred to the institution from   lower-division institutions of higher education, articulation   agreements with each public junior college from which the general   academic teaching institution has received an average of at least   five percent of the institution's transfer students in the three   preceding academic years.          (c)  A general academic teaching institution's participation   in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the   institution's admissions policies.          (d)  In consultation with general academic teaching   institutions and public junior colleges, the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board, using the negotiated rulemaking procedures   under Chapter 2008, Government Code, shall adopt any rules the   coordinating board considers necessary for the administration of   this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.0515, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (a)  To earn a baccalaureate degree, a student may not be   required by a general academic teaching institution to complete   more than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for   the degree by the institution's board-recognized accrediting   agency [Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its   successor] unless the institution determines that there is a   compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional   semester credit hours for the degree.          (d)  The board shall adopt any rules the board considers   necessary for the administration of this section.  In adopting   rules under this subsection, the board shall use the negotiated   rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.          SECTION 3.  Section 61.05151, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (a)  To earn an associate degree, a student may not be   required by an institution of higher education to complete more   than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the   degree by the institution's board-recognized accrediting agency   [Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its successor]   unless the institution determines that there is a compelling   academic reason for requiring completion of additional semester   credit hours for the degree.          (d)  The board shall adopt any rules the board considers   necessary for the administration of this section.  In adopting   rules under this subsection, the board shall use the negotiated   rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.          SECTION 4.  Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (f) to read as   follows:          (a-1)  The board, with the assistance of advisory committees   composed of representatives of institutions of higher education,   shall develop a recommended core curriculum of at least 42 semester   credit hours, including a statement of the content, component   areas, and objectives of the core curriculum. Administrators of an   institution of higher education may serve as representatives of the   institution on any advisory committee under this section.  At least   a majority of the members of any advisory committee named under this   section shall be faculty members of an institution of higher   education. An institution shall consult with the faculty of the   institution before nominating or recommending a person to the board   as the institution's representative on an advisory committee.          (f)  In an effort to facilitate the transfer of major-related   coursework beyond the general education core curriculum, the board,   with the assistance of the advisory committees described by   Subsection (a-1), shall:                (1)  develop a course-specific core curriculum for each   broad academic discipline within the general core curriculum; and                (2)  identify those degree programs offered at   institutions of higher education to which the course-specific core   curriculum, if successfully completed by a student at another   institution of higher education, is fully transferable.          SECTION 5.  Not later than May 31, 2019, each general   academic teaching institution shall publish on the institution's   Internet website the information required by Section 51.96852,   Education Code, as added by this Act, and establish articulation   agreements in accordance with that section.          SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections   61.0515(a) and 61.05151(a), Education Code, apply beginning with   undergraduate students who initially enroll in an institution of   higher education for the 2019 fall semester. An undergraduate   student who initially enrolls in an institution of higher education   before that semester is covered by the law in effect before the   effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 7.  Not later than May 31, 2019, the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board shall develop core curricula for broad   academic disciplines included within the general core curriculum   that conform to the requirements of Section 61.822, Education Code,   as amended by this Act.          SECTION 8.  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, 2017.