STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

April 22, 2005

(This legislative update has been assembled by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and edited by the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community.)

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APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
HOLDS FIRST MEETING

The Appropriations Conference Committee held their first substantive meeting today, April 22, and made initial decisions on two Articles, including the Judiciary. Through fees collected by the Office of Court Administration, the UH Law Center will receive $100,000 per year for the innocence program.

Working groups have been named for each of the articles. Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), Reps. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) and Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) are responsible for the Education Article (Article III). The full conference committee is scheduled to make decisions on Article III on May 13. Some of the work groups are scheduled to meet over the weekend.

UH-VICTORIA DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
BILL PASSES HOUSE

HB 1215 by Chairman Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) passed the House this week. It authorizes UHV to offer doctoral programs.

Other Legislation of Interest:

HB 3001 Morrison –reported from House Higher Education Committee
Increases the Higher Education Fund from $175 million per year to $262.5 million per year.

SB 30 Zaffarini –passed the Senate
Requires the Coordinating Board to create a pilot project under which institutions of higher education offer students contracts that establish agreements between the institution and the student to promote timely graduation.

SB 286 Wentworth –passed the Senate
Requires appointed officials, including boards of regents, to receive training regarding open meetings and open records.

SB 302 Ellis –passed the Senate
Requires universities to produce annual reports regarding minority participation.

SB 101 Van de Putte -passed the House
Requires electronic monitoring of veterans’ benefits

SB 676 West -reported from Senate Committee
Requires the Coordinating Board to identify “universities of the first class.”

SELECTED NEWS ARTICLES
ON HIGHER EDUCATION POSTED DAILY

Selected news articles from local, state, and national publications are being posted on the UH System Governmental Relations web page.

view the articles.

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Information on governmental relations policies

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