STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
April 6, 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.)
FINANCE COMMITTEE SET TO ADOPT APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The House and Senate have adjourned until next Tuesday, April 10, for the Easter break. If all goes according to plan, the Finance Committee will adopt the appropriations bill on Tuesday for floor consideration on Thursday. As it now stands, the Committee has added 3.8 percent in formula funding for higher education to the base bill. However, they exceeded their overall expenditure limit and have placed an across-the-board $100 million per year reduction in a rider to balance the bill.
Two bills that provide for studies to be conducted by the University of Houston are moving through the process. On Tuesday, the Senate Business and Commerce Committee reported SB 645 by Ellis. The bill authorizes the UH Center for Public Policy to conduct a study of residential foreclosures if funding is provided. HB 1493 by Bonnen creates the Severe Storm Research and Planning Center which is comprised of six universities including UH. The bill will be heard in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday.
The agenda for Tuesday’s hearing is rather lengthy and includes a number of bills of particular interest, including one (HB 3564) to move Angelo State University to the Texas Tech University System from the Texas State University System. Others of note include the following:
| HB 2128 | Murphy | Relating to sexual abuse and child molestation prevention training for certain public or private institutions of higher education employees and volunteers who work at programs for minors. |
| HB 2639 | Smithee | Relating to risk management programs for members of fraternities and other student organizations at public and private postsecondary educational institutions and to certain insurance requirements...fraternities. |
| HB 3321 | Truitt | Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at a public institution of higher education. |
| HB 3900 | Morrison | Relating to the Texas tomorrow fund II prepaid tuition unit undergraduate education programs. |
Also on Tuesday, the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee will have a full day with a hearing beginning at 7 a.m. Because they are considering all bills relating to the top ten percent rule and to tuition deregulation, they are expecting a large crowd and have reserved the auditorium for the hearing.
A FEW MORE BILLS WORTH NOTING
- HB 85 by Branch, which limits how credit cards are marketed to students, has passed the house.
- HB 116 by Fred Brown, which limits number of drops students can take, has been reported from House committee.
- HCR 159 by Morrison, which creates the Select Commission on Higher Education, has been reported from House committee.
- Find these bills and other legislation.
