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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a pilot program under which a |
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licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to public high |
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school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0091. MEDICAL DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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agency shall develop and implement a pilot program under which a |
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licensed hospital may offer dual credit courses to high school |
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students enrolled in a school district in partnership with the |
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district. |
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(b) The agency shall select up to three licensed hospitals |
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to participate in the pilot program. Each hospital selected must be |
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accredited by The Joint Commission and: |
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(1) have been issued: |
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(A) a certificate of approval to offer a program |
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of instruction by the Texas Workforce Commission under Subchapter |
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C, Chapter 132; or |
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(B) a certificate of authority to award a degree |
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for a program of study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board under Subchapter G, Chapter 61; or |
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(2) be accredited to offer a degree program by a |
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recognized accrediting agency, as that term is defined by Section |
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61.003. |
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(c) A licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b): |
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(1) may offer under the pilot program only dual credit |
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courses that are in the curriculum of the hospital's authorized |
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program of instruction or study or accredited degree program, as |
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applicable; and |
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(2) subject to Subdivision (1) and Subsection (d), |
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shall determine the content of each dual credit course offered |
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under the pilot program. |
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(d) A licensed hospital selected under Subsection (b) must |
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design the dual credit courses offered under the pilot program to |
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enable students to earn a variety of certifications, certificates, |
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and degrees. The available certifications, certificates, and |
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degrees must be selected based on: |
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(1) the needs of the hospital; |
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(2) the terms of the hospital's agreements with |
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partnering school districts to provide the dual credit courses |
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under the pilot program; and |
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(3) the goal of preparing students for employment in |
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the health care field. |
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(e) A student enrolled in a dual credit course offered under |
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the pilot program is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation |
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School Program for the time spent by the student on that course, in |
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accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner. |
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(f) A student may not be charged for tuition, fees, or |
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required textbooks or other instructional materials for a dual |
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credit course offered under the pilot program. The school district |
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in which the student is enrolled is responsible for the cost of the |
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student's tuition, fees, or required textbooks or other |
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instructional materials for that course to the extent that those |
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amounts are not waived by the licensed hospital offering the |
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course. |
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(g) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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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, 2017. |