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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report on online law schools and on the |
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licensing of attorneys who obtain degrees through online or |
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correspondence law schools or who become licensed through other |
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nontraditional methods. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0908 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0908. STUDY AND REPORT ON ONLINE LAW SCHOOLS AND |
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LICENSING OF ATTORNEYS. (a) The board, in collaboration with the |
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Board of Law Examiners, shall conduct a study regarding the future |
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of online law schools and the licensing of attorneys in this state |
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who obtain law degrees through online or correspondence law schools |
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or who become licensed in other states through apprenticeship |
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programs. |
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(b) The study must include an evaluation of: |
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(1) online or correspondence law schools in other |
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states; |
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(2) legal apprenticeship programs in other states; |
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(3) alternative methods of accreditation of law |
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schools in other states; and |
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(4) alternative methods of licensing an attorney who: |
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(A) obtained a law degree through a law school |
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unapproved by this state; or |
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(B) was licensed in another state through a legal |
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apprenticeship program. |
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(c) The board shall include the results of the study and any |
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recommendations for legislative or administrative action in a |
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report submitted to the governor and the legislature before |
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December 31, 2016. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement Section 61.0908, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |