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STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

March 2, 2007

(This 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.)

COMMITTEE CLOSE TO WRAPPING UP WORK ON APPROPRIATIONS BILL

On this 160th anniversary of Texas Independence, the Texas Legislature ends the eighth week of session. While they “pended” (as in “left pending”) all issues relating to higher education, the House Appropriations Committee is getting closer to wrapping up work on HB 1. They hope to make semi-final decisions by next Thursday, prepare the bill for printing and eligibility for consideration by the full House around March 27.

It appears that they will add funds to TEXAS grants and other financial aid programs, with a small increase in formula funding. It is important to remember that funding for universities in the base bill included full funding for the tuition revenue bonds, formula funds for enrollment growth, and a substantial increase in the Higher Education Fund. They also restored all of the 10 percent across-the-board cuts.

RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS OF INTEREST

With the filing deadline a week away, a number of bills have been filed relating specifically to higher education, including the following:

• SB 1029 by Shapiro relating to performance incentive funding for institutions of higher education.
• HB 2213 by Vo relating to the use and disclosure of social security numbers by institutions if higher education.
• HB 2225 by Giddings relating to student representation on the Higher Education Coordinating Board and certain coordinating board advisory committees
• HB 2279 by Strama relating to the use of energy-efficient light bulbs in certain state buildings, public school facilities, and higher education facilities.
• HB 2141 by Rose relating to student members of the board of regents of a state university or state university system; authorizing student regents to be voting members of the boards
• HJR 80 by Rose relating to authorizing a student member of the board of regents of a state institution of higher education or state university system to serve a term that differs from the terms served by other members of the board.
• SJR 18 by Zaffirini relating to extending the period of maturity for bonds and notes issued by certain higher education entities.
• SB 1050 by Zaffirini relating to the administration of work-study student mentorship program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• SB 1051 by Zaffirini relating to course requirements for students enrolled in joint degree programs between certain general academic teaching institutions and foreign universities.
• SB 1052 by Zaffirini relating to tuition credits for students who complete the core curriculum at two-year public institutions of higher education.
• SB 1053 by Zaffirini relating to assessing the quality and effectiveness of academic advising services offered by public institutions of higher education.
• SB 1054 by Zaffirini relating to the conduct that constitutes hazing and to the application of hazing laws to certain former students of an education institution.
• SB 1055 by Zaffirini relating to establishing a commission to study and report on the projected need for faculty at public and private institutions of higher education.