89R4366 CMO-D     By: Eckhardt, et al. S.B. No. 365       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an   undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education   is entitled to an academic fresh start.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 51.931, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:          (c-1)  In considering an applicant for admission under this   section, a public institution of higher education may choose to   disregard academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant   more recently than 10 years before the starting date of the semester   in which the applicant seeks to enroll, except the institution may   not disregard any credits or grades earned during the five-year   period preceding that date. An institution that chooses to   disregard course credits or grades earned during the additional   period permitted by this subsection must disregard all course   credits or grades earned during that period and may not award any   credit for those courses.          (c-2)  Each public institution of higher education shall   adopt, post on the institution's Internet website, and submit to   the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a policy regarding   the admissions made by the institution under this section,   including the period for which an applicant's course credits or   grades will be considered by the institution under the policy.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.0595(c), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  For a student enrolled in a baccalaureate program under   Section 51.931, semester credit hours that were earned by the   student [10 or more years] before the date the student began    [begins] the new degree program under Section 51.931 and that were   disregarded under institution policy as described by that section    are not counted for purposes of determining whether the student has   previously earned the number of semester credit hours specified by   Subsection (a).          SECTION 3.  Section 51.931, Education Code, as amended by   this Act, applies beginning with admissions to a public institution   of higher education for the 2025 fall semester.          SECTION 4.  Section 61.0595(c), Education Code, as amended   by this Act, applies beginning with funding recommendations made   under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the state fiscal biennium   beginning September 1, 2025, for semester credit hours earned by   students enrolling in a baccalaureate degree program at a public   institution of higher education under Section 51.931, Education   Code, as amended by this Act, for the 2025 fall semester or a   subsequent semester or term.  Funding recommendations for semester   credit hours earned by a student who enrolled in a baccalaureate   degree program at a public institution of higher education under   Section 51.931, Education Code, as amended by this Act, before the   2025 fall semester are governed by the law in effect immediately   before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  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, 2025.