1. (a) A Texas college or university that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and which has a criminal justice or law enforcement program approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) may make application to conduct training for licensees.

2. (b) As part of the application process,

   1. (1) documentation of approval from THECB for a criminal justice or law enforcement program;
   2. (2) documentation that an advisory board has been appointed as provided by §215.7 of this chapter and §1701.252 of the Texas Occupations Code, including a resume for each board member;
   3. (3) advisory board minutes that show the advisory board has complied with the requirements of §215.7 of this chapter;
   4. (4) the name, PID, and resume of the proposed training coordinator;
   5. (5) documentation that the training coordinator has met the responsibilities required by contract, law, or rule, to include but not limited to §215.9 of this chapter;
   6. (6) an operational budget and a proposed course schedule to show that training will be conducted;
   7. (7) selection of a training facility and instructional materials that meet the inspection requirements identified in §215.3(d) of this chapter, as determined by the commission;
   8. (8) documentation that the program meets the federal and state accessibility requirements to which its entity is subject and which apply to the training function, including course materials, course presentation, and facilities;
   9. (9) documentation of any contractual provision the applicant may have with a licensed academy to provide the sequence courses;
   10. (10) provisions for the Registrar to issue all endorsements; and
   11. (11) at the request of the executive director, the applicant must forward for approval at least one copy of the learning objectives of each alternative course provided.

3. (c) A comprehensive training needs assessment must be submitted to the commission for approval and must include:

   1. (1) a description of whom the alternative academic provider will serve and the number of students they expect to train annually;
   2. (2) the basis for these expectations; and
   3. (3) proof of notification by e-mail to all licensed academies within the area of the applicant's intent to apply for an academic alternative provider license.
4. (d) The dean or chair of the academic program and the proposed training coordinator must appear before the commissioners to respond to questions prior to action being taken on the application.

5. (e) Once a license is issued, the chief administrator or training coordinator of the academic alternative provider must report in writing to the commission within 30 days:

   1. (1) any change in the dean of the department;
   2. (2) any change in training coordinator;
   3. (3) any failure to meet commission rules and standards by the training coordinator, instructors, or advisory board;
   4. (4) any change in status with SACS and/or THECB;
   5. (5) when non-compliance with federal or state requirements is discovered; or
   6. (6) any change in provider name, physical location, mailing address, electronic mail address, or telephone number.

6. (f) The commission will award training credit for the academic alternative program when provided by licensed academic alternative providers, unless the:

   1. (1) courses were not conducted in compliance with commission rules;
   2. (2) courses were not conducted in compliance with THECB guidelines;
   3. (3) advisory board, training coordinator, or instructor failed to discharge any responsibility required by rule; or
   4. (4) credit was obtained by deceitful means.
7. (g) The commission may cancel an academic alternative license if it was issued in error or based on false or incorrect information.

8. (h) The commission may suspend an academic alternative license, or the executive director or his designee may issue a written reprimand to the dean of the department, if:

   1. (1) the academic alternative provider fails to comply with a commission rules or any law; or
   2. (2) the academic alternative provider has been classified as at risk under §215.13 of this chapter.

9. (i) The commission may revoke an academic alternative license if:

   1. (1) the academic alternative provider has been classified as at risk under §215.13 of this chapter for a 12-month period without complying with commission rules;
   2. (2) the academic alternative provider has lost either SACS accreditation or THECB approval; or
   3. (3) the training coordinator intentionally or knowingly submits a falsified document or a false written statement or representation to the commission.
10. (j) An academic alternative provider may surrender its license at any time for any reason. To surrender the license, the dean of the department must send written notice, accompanied by the license, to the executive director. The surrender is effective immediately upon receipt by the executive director.
11. (k) The effective date of this section is July 6, 2009.

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.6 adopted to be effective July 6, 2009, 34 TexReg 4343.