(This legislative 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, our alumni, and our friends.)
Most of you have probably read of the death of Rep. Irma Rangel, former chair of the House Higher Education Committee and driving force of the South Texas initiative for higher education. She was tenacious and unbending in her support of the less fortunate. To honor her memory, the House did not meet Friday, March 21.
BILLS FILED CALLING FOR ONE RESEARCH FUND, TROPICAL STORM ALLISON RECOVERY--More than 800 new bills were filed before the deadline March 14 resulting in a total of 3,650 House bills and 1,921 Senate bills. That amounts to roughly one hundred more Senate bills and 80 fewer House bills than last session. During those last hours, Rep. Peggy Hamric (R-Houston) and Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) filed legislation (HB 3526 and SB 1855) to consolidate the Tier One funds created under HB 1839 last session. This will result in a single Research Development Fund that requires one set of criteria to qualify for the fund. Rep. John Davis also filed HB 3350 authorizing UH to issue tuition revenue bonds for recovery from Tropical Storm Allison. Sen. Rodney Ellis filed similar legislation earlier this session (SB 362).
The Senate Finance working group for higher education completed their recommendations late Thursday. No document is currently available, but informed sources have told us to expect recommendations to the full committee that would update formulas to "current services" levels and then reduce all formulas and special items equally by 10.2 %. The House Appropriations Committee is attempting to finish minor clean-up issues, including some in higher education, but extended floor debate on tort reform has prevented the committee from meeting.
HIGH NUMBER OF TUITION BILLS FILED--There have been an unusually large number of tuition bills filed this session. No one, however, filed a bill to delegate all tuition authority to boards of regents as proposed by the University of Texas System. The simplest approach is contained in a bill by Sen. Florence Shapiro, (R-Plano), chair of the Senate Education Committee. She recommends authorizing boards of regents to raise designated tuition to three times the rate of statutory tuition. Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) is exploring a new approach to tuition. Her bill authorizes boards to set tuition for undergraduates at a rate not to exceed 5 % of the student’s gross family income. A brief explanation of the tuition bills follows:
HB 2797 by Keel. (Same as SB 1521 by Zaffirini) Authorizes an increase for graduate schools of business of 3 times the amount of statutory tuition.
HB 2885 by Van Arsdale. Requires boards to set flat rate tuition for students with more than 60 hours. Such students shall not be charged designated tuition.
HB 3015 by Morrison. Authorizes boards to set undergraduate tuition and fees at an amount not to exceed 5 % of the student’s gross family income.
HB 3064 by Brown. Authorizes boards to set tuition for graduate and undergraduate courses above a minimum rate. Increases above the statutory minimums would be deducted from general revenue in the method of finance.
SB 665 by Ogden. Sunsets tuition and all fees on September 1, 2005.
SB 1485 by Ogden. Repeals most fees and rewrites the statute to limit tuition and fees to three categories: tuition, essential student services fees and discretionary student services fees.
SB 1486 by Ogden. Sets a minimum amount for nonresident undergraduate tuition and authorizes boards to increase the amount. Gives governing boards complete flexibility to set summer school tuition.
SB 1542 by Shapiro. Authorizes boards to set designated tuition at three times the rate of statutory tuition.
OTHER LEGISLATION OF INTEREST--HB 2 by Swinford relating to the reorganization of, efficiency in, and other reform measures applying to state government. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a review of university system administrations and recommend opportunities for reorganization or restructuring. (This provision is also contained in a number of other bills, including HB 3001.)
HB 7 by Heflin (Same as SB 1860 by Bivins). Reduces appropriations for the current fiscal year by seven percent for most agencies.
HB 1824 by Hamric. (Same as SB 1718 by Williams). Reduces formula appropriations for institutions that underestimated other educational and general revenue in the previous biennium.
HB 2419 by Gallego (Same as 286 by Shapleigh). Coordinating Board Sunset legislation.
HB 2447 by Chavez. (Same as SB 1332 by Barrientos) Relating to the regulation of time, place, and manner of speech in a state institution of higher education.
HB 2555 by Chavez. Relating to requiring a course in multicultural or gender studies in baccalaureate degree programs at public institutions of higher education.
HB 3063 by Betty Brown. Requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to review Special Item appropriations requests.
Text and the status of these and all bills may be found at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
Finally, UH System Board of Regents members Mike Cemo, Raul Gonzalez, and Leroy Hermes will appear before the Senate Nominations Committee today for their confirmation hearing. Also appearing before the committee on Monday are appointments to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, University of Texas System board of regents, Midwestern State University board of regents, University of North Texas System board of regents, Texas State University System board of regents and Texas Woman’s University board of regents.
"UH SYSTEM DAY IN AUSTIN" PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE—Visit the "UH System Day in Austin" Photo Gallery for a look at all the activities related to the visit by some 400 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to the state capitol building on February 18, including images of the bus trip, the pep rally at Sholz Garten, the visit to the Senate Chamber and legislators offices, and the evening reception for legislators.
WATCH HOUSE, SENATE PROCEEDINGS ONLINE—Now you can watch the legislative sessions and committee meetings on line. Click on any of these links for live audio and video images…
Live broadcasts from House chamber and from committee rooms
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/house/broadcast.htm
Live broadcasts from Senate chamber and from committee rooms