Texas HB 288: Relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic standards, and employment decisions in this state.

Bill Text

By:AAOlcott H.B.ANo.A288
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic
standards, and employment decisions in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASubchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.3095 to read as follows:
Sec.A51.3095.AACERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION
COURSEWORK AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVISIONS. (a) In this section,
"medical school" means:
(1)AAa medical school as defined by Section 61.501; or
(2)AAany other institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, or school, department, or college of
such an institution, that awards medical degrees.
(b)AAEach medical school:
(1)AAshall ensure that any coursework offered in the
curriculum required for a medical degree or certificate assesses a
student’s performance on the coursework based on the assignment of
a letter grade from A to F; and
(2)AAmay not offer coursework described by Subdivision
(1), including any assignment or other component of the coursework,
on a pass/fail basis.
(c)AAExcept as required to comply with state or federal law,
a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the award
of a degree or certificate unless the medical school submits to the
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legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
(1)AAa copy of the proposed standards;
(2)AAa concise general statement of the reasons for the
proposed standards; and
(3)AAthe date on which the proposed standards would
become effective.
SECTIONA2.AASubchapter W, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.8425 to read as follows:
Sec.A51.8425.AACERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL
SCHOOL ADMISSION. (a) In this section, "medical school" has the
meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.
(b)AAIn making admissions decisions for a medical degree or
certificate program, a medical school shall consider an applicant’s
performance on a standardized test appropriate for the program that
focuses on knowledge of and critical thinking applicable to science
and medical practice, except that the applicant’s performance on
the standardized test may not be used as the sole criterion for
consideration of the applicant.
(c)AAExcept as required to comply with state or federal law,
a medical school may not revise its academic standards for the
admission of a student to the medical school or to a degree or
certificate program unless the medical school submits to the
legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
(1)AAa copy of the proposed standards;
(2)AAa concise general statement of the reasons for the
proposed standards; and
(3)AAthe date on which the proposed standards would
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become effective.
SECTIONA3.AASubchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.9247 to read as follows:
Sec.A51.9247.AACONSIDERATION OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY,
OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
DECISIONS PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "medical school" has
the meaning assigned by Section 51.3095.
(b)AANotwithstanding any other provision of law, a medical
school may not grant preference on the basis of race, sex, color,
ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant:
(1)AAfor admission to the medical school or to a degree
or certificate program; or
(2)AAfor employment by the medical school.
(c)AANothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting
bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary
to the normal operation of a medical school.
SECTIONA4.AAThe changes in law made by this Act to admissions
at medical schools apply beginning with admissions for the 2026
fall semester. Admissions for an academic period preceding that
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.
SECTIONA5.AAThis Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.
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