H.B. No. 3348
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer
  baccalaureate degree programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 130.0012, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), (k), and (l) to read as
  follows:
         (b-1)  The coordinating board shall establish a pilot
  project to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of authorizing
  baccalaureate degree programs in the field of dental hygiene at a
  public junior college that offers a degree program in that field,
  has a main campus located in the county seat of a county with a
  population greater than 200,000, and includes territory in at least
  six public school districts located in two counties. Subsection (g)
  does not apply to junior-level and senior-level courses offered
  under this subsection. In its recommendations to the legislature
  relating to state funding for public junior colleges, the
  coordinating board shall recommend that junior-level and
  senior-level courses offered under this subsection by a public  
  junior college receive the same state support as other courses
  offered by the public junior college.
         (b-2)  Not later than January 1, 2017, the coordinating board
  shall prepare a progress report on the pilot project established
  under Subsection (b-1). Not later than January 1, 2019, the
  coordinating board shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of
  the pilot project, including any recommendations for legislative
  action regarding the offering of baccalaureate degree programs in
  the field of dental hygiene by a public junior college. The
  coordinating board shall deliver a copy of each report to the
  governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, and the chair of the standing committee of each
  house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
  education. Unless the authority to continue offering a
  baccalaureate degree program in the field of dental hygiene is
  continued by the legislature, a public junior college may not:
               (1)  enroll a new student in a baccalaureate degree
  program under the pilot project after the 2019 fall semester;
               (2)  offer junior-level or senior-level courses for
  those degree programs after the 2021 fall semester, unless the
  coordinating board authorizes the college to offer those courses;
  or
               (3)  award a baccalaureate degree under the pilot
  project after the 2021 fall semester, unless the coordinating board
  approves the awarding of the degree.
         (b-3)  This subsection and Subsections (b-1) and (b-2)
  expire on the first June 15 following the first regular legislative
  session that occurs after the fourth anniversary of the date a
  public junior college offering a degree program in the field of
  dental hygiene under Subsection (b-1) meets the accreditation
  requirements of Subsection (c).
         (k)  The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary
  for the administration of this section.
         (l)  In this section, "general academic teaching
  institution" and "institution of higher education" have the
  meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3348 was passed by the House on May 8,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3348 on May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 1,
  3 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3348 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 25, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor