H.B. No. 2937         AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a pilot program under which a   licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to public high   school students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.0764 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.0764.  MEDICAL DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The   board shall develop and implement a pilot program under which a   licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to high school   students enrolled in a school district in partnership with the   district.          (b)  The board shall select one licensed hospital located in   a county that borders the United Mexican States and that has a   population of at least 700,000 and not more than 800,000 to   participate in the pilot program. The hospital must be accredited   by The Joint Commission and:                (1)  have been issued:                      (A)  a certificate of approval to offer a program   of instruction by the Texas Workforce Commission under Subchapter   C, Chapter 132; or                      (B)  a certificate of authority to award a degree   for a program of study by the board under Subchapter G of this   chapter;                (2)  be accredited to offer a degree program by the   appropriate recognized regional accrediting agency; or                (3)  must:                      (A)  have entered into a partnership with an   institution of higher education to offer dual credit courses under   the pilot program; and                      (B)  be seeking authorization to offer a program   of instruction or study as described by Subdivision (1) or   accreditation to offer a degree program as described by Subdivision   (2).          (c)  The licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b):                (1)  may offer under the pilot program only dual credit   courses that are in the curriculum of the hospital's program of   instruction or study or degree program described by Subsection   (b)(1), (2), or (3), as applicable; and                (2)  subject to Subdivision (1) and Subsection (d),   shall determine the content of each dual credit course offered   under the pilot program with the goal of ensuring that the course is   transferable for course credit applied toward a certificate or   degree at an institution of higher education.          (d)  The licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b)   must design the dual credit courses offered under the pilot program   to enable students to earn a variety of certifications,   certificates, and degrees, including at least one certification or   certificate while the student is in high school. The available   certifications, certificates, and degrees must be selected based   on:                (1)  the needs of the hospital;                (2)  the terms of the hospital's agreements with   partnering school districts to provide the dual credit courses   under the pilot program; and                (3)  the goal of preparing students for employment in   the health care field.          (e)  A student enrolled in a dual credit course offered under   the pilot program is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation   School Program for the time spent by the student on that course, in   accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner of education.          (f)  A student may not be charged for tuition, fees, or   required textbooks or other instructional materials for a dual   credit course offered under the pilot program. The school district   in which the student is enrolled is responsible for the cost of the   student's tuition, fees, or required textbooks or other   instructional materials for that course to the extent that those   amounts are not waived by the licensed hospital.          (g)  The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this   section.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.0764, Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school 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, 2017.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2937 was passed by the House on May 9,   2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 6, 2 present, not   voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to   H.B. No. 2937 on May 26, 2017, and requested the appointment of a   conference committee to consider the differences between the two   houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report   on H.B. No. 2937 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142,   Nays 2, 2 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 2937 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays   6; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference   committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and   that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.   2937 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays 7.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor