85R9592 KJE-D     By: Canales H.B. No. 2937       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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 A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 28.0091 to read as follows:          Sec. 28.0091.  MEDICAL DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  The   agency 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 agency shall select one licensed hospital 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 Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board under Subchapter G, Chapter 61; or                (2)  be accredited to offer a degree program by a   recognized accrediting agency, as that term is defined by Section   61.003.          (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 authorized   program of instruction or study or accredited degree program, 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.          (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. The   available certifications 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)  The licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b) may   not charge a student for a dual credit course offered under the   pilot program an amount greater than the average amount charged by   other providers for a similar course offered in the same region as   the dual credit course, if any.          (f)  From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency   shall provide to the licensed hospital selected under Subsection   (b) funding for each contact hour attributable to the enrollment of   a public high school student in a dual credit course offered under   the pilot program in an amount equal to the amount allocated for an   equivalent contact hour to a public junior college under Section   130.003.          (g)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section.           SECTION 2.  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.