(This legislative update is produced by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community, our alumni, and our friends.)
SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY BILLS FILED IN HOUSE--With the filing deadline only hours away, house members filed over 800 bills last week, including bills to remove administrative burdens on universities, increase administrative burdens on universities, increase the cap on tuition for particular programs, limit the types of fees that may be charged, require courses in multicultural or gender studies, restrict the regulation of free speech at institutions, and establish The University of Texas at Arlington as a freestanding university outside of the UT System.
If you would like to see a copy of any bill go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us. It will, however, be several days before all the legislation is online, however.
The House Appropriations Committee completed mark-up on higher education yesterday. They treated every institution in the same manner by reducing the formulas and special items by 12.5 %. They also reduced current (FY 2002-03) debt reimbursements by 12.5 %. Since we have issued bonds in the interim, that reduction is substantially greater than 12.5 %.
The Senate Finance Committee has been meeting in informal work groups. They will probably make initial recommendations on higher education early next week. It is possible that their cuts will be smaller. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst’s staff has identified some additional revenues that may be available for services throughout state government. As Chairman Talmadge Heflin said this week, this is a very fluid process.
UH System Board of Regents members Mike Cemo, Raul Gonzalez, and Leroy Hermes are tentatively scheduled to appear before the Senate Nominations Committee for confirmation March 24.
A few bills of note:
HB 2427 by Brown, authorizes universities to self-insure for workers’ compensation.
SB 1319 by Nelson, creates a school of pharmacy at UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
SB 1243 by Armbrister, allows a one-time option of changing from the Optional Retirement Program to the Teachers’ Retirement System.
SB 1214 by Van de Putte, authorizes a governing board to deliberate in private regarding certain contracts.
HB 2393 by Goodman, establishes UT-Arlington as an independent institution.
SB 1485 by Ogden, revamps tuition and fee statutes and limits the types of fees that may be charged.
SB 1486 by Ogden, authorizes an increase nonresident tuition and authorizes unlimited flexible tuition for summer terms.
HB 2645 by Bailey, ties faculty salary increases to administrative salaries.
WATCH HOUSE, SENATE PROCEEDINGS ONLINE—Now you can watch the legislative sessions and committee meetings on line. Click on any of these links for live audio and video images…
Live broadcasts from House chamber and from committee rooms
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/house/broadcast.htm
Live broadcasts from Senate chamber and from committee rooms