STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
March 9, 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.)
COURT CASE MAY IMPACT APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Frew v. Hawkins, an 11-year old court case against the state’s health and human services agency, may have a serious impact on the state budget for years to come. The case has to do with how the state handles Medicaid money and may cost Texas as much as $5 billion per year to resolve. Judge William Wayne Justice will begin a conference on April 9 to determine how the state can solve the violations cited in the case. In the meantime, legislative budget writers are moving forward on the appropriations bill with a cautious eye to this case.
The House Appropriations Committee is nearing the end of their mark-up of the Appropriations bill and the Senate is not far behind.
COMMITTEE TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON TEXTBOOK-RELATED BILLS
Next Monday, The House Higher Education committee will take testimony on textbook-related bills. Some of the bills eliminate the sales tax for college textbooks and others regulate requirements for textbooks. See the full posting.
LAST-MINUTE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS OF INTEREST
With today’s 6 p.m. deadline for the filing of bills, there has been a predictable avalanche of filings. It will take us a few days to review the hundreds that have been introduced in the last two days. Here are some new ones of interest:
- HB 2639 by Smithee relating to risk management programs for members of fraternities and other student organizations at public and private institutions of higher education (Same as SB 113by Duncan)
- HB 2778 by Villarreal relating to increasing the number of transfer students at general academic teaching institutions.
- HB 2842 by Herrero relating to the applicability of across-the-board salary increases to employees of institutions of higher education
- HB 2979 by Morrison relating to a study regarding state financial assistance to students enrolled at public institutions of higher education
- HB 2888 by Rodriguez relating to retirement benefits for police officers employed by institutions of higher education
- HB 3075 by Howard relating to transfer of course credit between public and private institutions of higher education
- SB 1306 by Wentworth relating to a quorum of governmental bodies at certain events
- SB 1325 by West relating to eligibility of relatives of public university board members to receive certain scholarships
- SJR 45 by Ellis relating to casino gambling and providing for funds for scholarships
UH SYSTEM DAY IN AUSTIN PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE
Read about UH System Day in Austin and view the photo gallery.
