Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HJR110

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to establish permanent funds for the support of state institutions and agencies of higher education that do not participate in funding from the permanent university fund.

Impact

The legislative changes proposed in HJR110 involve amendments to Article VII of the Texas Constitution. The proposed Permanent University Fund II will be set up as a trust outside of the state treasury, managed jointly by the boards of regents from the University of Houston System and the Texas Tech University System. This new fund aims to ensure stable financial support for these institutions, potentially addressing historical disparities in funding compared to others benefiting from the Permanent University Fund.

Summary

HJR110 proposes a constitutional amendment intended to establish permanent funds specifically for the maintenance and support of state institutions and agencies of higher education, notably those that do not currently participate in funding from the Permanent University Fund. This initiative highlights a significant shift in how funding for higher education in Texas may be structured, introducing additional resources aimed at supporting institutions that have traditionally been excluded from such funding frameworks.

Contention

One notable point of contention regarding HJR110 is the mechanism for transferring funds from the existing Permanent University Fund to the new Permanent University Fund II. The amendment stipulates that transfers will occur only when certain fiscal thresholds are met, which could lead to concerns about the adequacy of resources for education during transitional phases. Additionally, there could be debates surrounding the equity in funding distribution among different universities, leading to discussions about the effectiveness of the proposed funding models in meeting diverse institutional needs.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HJR189

Proposing a constitutional amendment reducing The University of Texas System's share of the income and other benefits of the permanent university fund, transferring to the national research university fund and general revenue fund a portion of the annual distribution made from the permanent university fund to the available university fund, appropriating the portion transferred to the national research university fund, and dedicating the portion transferred to the general revenue fund to provide for the support and maintenance of public institutions of higher education.

TX SJR26

Proposing a constitutional amendment to entitle all component institutions of The Texas A&M University System and The University of Texas System to participate in the income and other benefits of the permanent university fund.

TX SJR81

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System and certain component institutions of the Texas State University System and repealing the limitation on the allocation to the Texas State Technical College System and its campuses of the annual appropriation of certain constitutionally dedicated funding for public institutions of higher education.

TX SJR49

Proposing a constitutional amendment creating a university research fund to support emerging research universities in The University of Texas System or The Texas A&M University System and disqualifying all component institutions of those university systems from receiving money from the national research university fund.

TX HJR3

Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.

TX SJR5

TX SJR69

Proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating to the national research university fund a portion of certain income from the lease for oil and gas exploration of land dedicated to the permanent university fund.

TX SB19

Relating to the administration and investment of, and distribution and use of money from, certain constitutional and statutory funds to support general academic teaching institutions in achieving national prominence as major research universities and driving the state economy; redesignating the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund.

TX HJR201

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of career and technical education programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System, the Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange, and Lamar State College-Port Arthur.