STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
December 21, 2006
(This update is produced 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.)
UH SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION STATEMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Houston and the upper Gulf Coast region represent approximately one fourth of the state’s population and economy. The area is also one of the most ethnically diverse parts of the state. (UH and UH-Downtown are two of the most diverse universities nationally.). The long-term success of the greater Houston area is critical to the future of Texas. The UH System universities are inextricably linked to Houston and the Gulf Coast region as the primary providers of educational and cultural opportunities, skilled employees and leaders, technical knowledge, and innovative research.
As the demands and requirements of our population and economic/industrial base increase, the UH System universities must be creative and efficient in the ways we provide educational services given the limited resources available to us.
While it is true that the UH System universities strive to make the most of available funds, the needs of our constituencies and the goals we have established for serving them necessitate greater resources than our universities currently possess. By 2015, demographic forecasts predict the Houston metropolitan area will add another 1.4 million persons, 800,000 of which will be of Hispanic descent. Accommodating a corresponding level of enrollment growth at our universities will require tremendous investments in faculty, staff, facilities and other infrastructure.
Therefore, we ask that the Legislature consider the items listed below as areas of critical concern to the University of Houston System:
- Increase base funding to support enrollment growth, increasing costs of goods and services, faculty and staff salaries, and insurance.
- Appropriate state-wide increases to the Higher Education Fund (HEF), which is the state’s constitutionally authorized capital construction fund, from $175 million to $225 million. This amount was statutorily authorized during the 79th Texas Legislature to support enrollment growth, deferred maintenance, fire marshal compliance, and other life/safety issues.
- Fully-fund debt service on tuition revenue bonds, so that we may fulfill our obligations on capital projects without diverting resources from other critical priorities (e.g., instruction, research).
- Increase financial aid (especially for the TEXAS Grant program) to enhance student enrollment, retention and graduation.
In addition to student access, academic and research excellence are critical to fully preparing students for the 21st century workforce and for generating the research needed to fuel economic development in today’s economy. This is especially important for the University of Houston as it seeks to become the state’s third top-tier research university, more of which are needed in the state and the Houston metropolitan area. Therefore, the University of Houston System also asks the Texas Legislature to consider the following items:
- Fully fund the Research Development Fund as statutorily authorized, to achieve the research and academic excellence goals Texas needs for economic prosperity.
- Continue funding for special items and new funding for exceptional items, to support an array of valuable research and public service programs and leverage external resources.
ALMOST 400 BILLS ALREADY FILED
Prefiling of legislation began the Monday following the General Election. Of the almost 400 bills already filed, we are tracking 69 pieces of pertinent legislation. By the end of the session, we anticipate tracking around 700 bills affecting everything from appropriations and business practices to residency and curriculum. Tuition deregulation, no doubt, will be a popular topic.
LEGISLATURE CONVENES JANUARY 9;
OTHER DATES OF IMPORTANCE LISTED
The 80th Legislature convenes at high noon on Tuesday, January 9. The Governor and Lt. Governor will be inaugurated on January 16. Other dates of importance include the following:
Friday, March 9, 2007 (60th day)
Deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions other than
local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that
have been declared an emergency by the governor
[House Rule 8, Sec. 8; Senate Rule 7.07(b)]
Monday, May 28, 2007 (140th day)
Last day of 80th Regular Session; corrections only
in house and senate
[Sec. 24(b), Art. III, Texas Constitution]
Sunday, June 17, 2007 (20th day following final adjournment)
Last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during the
previous legislative session
[Sec. 14, Art. IV, Texas Constitution]
Monday, August 27, 2007 (91st day following final adjournment)
Date that bills without specific effective dates (that could not
be effective immediately) become law
[Sec. 39, Art. III, Texas Constitution]
As bills are filed, we circulate them to appropriate staff for review at each campus. Knowing this is an additional burden to the already full schedules volunteers, we would like to thank them before the session for their diligent efforts.
