STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
April 20, 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.)
SPEAKER NAMES CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
House Speaker Craddick named the conferees for the Appropriations Bill this week. They are Chairman Warren Chisum and Reps. Ryan Guillen, Lois Kolkhorst, Dan Gattis, and Sylvester Turner. The last three members served on the conference committee last session. Because many members are vying for spots on the Senate side of the conference committee, Lt. Governor Dewhurst has yet to name his members. Regardless, Chairman Chisum told us this week that he expected to wrap up their work in record time.
The House State Affairs committee met until midnight Thursday night on several bills repealing or altering the law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they have attended a Texas high school for at least three years and have graduated. A number of students from around the state, including UH System universities, attended and testified against the bills. Gov. Perry has said that he would veto such legislation.
Three bills that were drafted at the request of university bursars to clarify statutes relating to student loans, payment for dropped courses, and student property deposits (SB 1231, SB 1232, and SB 1233) were passed on the Senate Consent Calendar this week.
RECENT ACTION OF INTEREST
- SB 1053 by Zaffirini Requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study the effectiveness advising services at universities. Passed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- HB 3564 by Darby transferring Angelo State University to the Texas Tech University System. Placed on the House Calendar for April 24
- SB 105 by West establishing a law school in Dallas by the University of North Texas System. Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for April 23
- HB 1233 by Branch establishing a law school in Dallas by the University of North Texas System. Set for hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on April 23rd
- SB 1052 by Zaffirini awarding tuition credits to students who complete the core curriculum at two-year public institutions of higher education. Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for April 23
- SB 1146 by Shapiro requiring online performance reports for public institutions of higher education. The bill has been amended to clarify that the report would be prepared by the Coordinating Board from data that is largely collected at present. Universities would simply provide a link from their website to the report card. Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for April 23
- SB 554 by Shapleigh requiring contracts for the employment of a chief executive officer of a public institution of higher education to include a provision for an annual performance evaluation that includes an assessment of graduation rates. Hearing set in Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education for April 23
- SB 944 by Janek authorizing private institutions to participate in the Advanced Research Program. Hearing set in Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education for April 23
- HB 2141 by Rose relating to student members of the board of regents. Clarifies some inconsistencies in the law. Set for hearing in the House Higher Education Committee for April 23
