Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB4453

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the national research university fund and the allocation of amounts appropriated from the fund, the abolition of the higher education fund, and the institutional groupings established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Impact

The legislation will amend existing statutes in the Texas Education Code, specifically introducing a framework for monitoring and assessing the performance of eligible institutions. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will be charged with establishing the criteria and definitions for these groupings. Funds allocated from the National Research University Fund will be utilized for activities that bolster an institution's research capacity, including faculty support, equipment acquisition, and various educational activities aimed at promoting research.

Summary

House Bill 4453 aims to establish and manage the National Research University Fund, which is designed to provide a dedicated source of funding for emerging research universities in Texas. The bill outlines the creation of institutional groupings that classify different types of higher education institutions, including research universities. This classification will assist in determining eligibility for allocations from the fund, with the goal of promoting the development of universities that strive for national prominence in research capabilities.

Contention

While the bill's supporters argue that enhancing funding for emerging research universities is essential for fostering innovation and economic development in the state, there may be concerns regarding the potential exclusion of certain institutions, specifically those currently receiving support from the Permanent University Fund. Such exclusions could provoke debate about equity in funding distribution among Texas institutions of higher education. Furthermore, the bill’s impacts on existing funding mechanisms like the Higher Education Fund could spark discussions about which institutions prioritize research over broader educational needs.

Companion Bills

TX SB1560

Identical Relating to university funding, including university funding for excellence, the national research university fund, the abolition of the higher education fund, and the institutional groupings established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

TX HJR139

Enabling for Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.

Previously Filed As

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 SB1058

Relating to the university research fund and eligibility to receive money from the national research university fund.

TX SJR5

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 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 HB1595

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.

TX SB1055

Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System and the allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.

TX HB2639

Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System and the allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.

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 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 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.

Similar Bills

TX HB1000

Relating to state support for general academic teaching institutions in this state.

TX HB51

Relating to measures to enhance and maintain the quality of state universities, including funding and incentives to support emerging public research universities, to the abolition of the higher education fund, to the institutional groupings under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system, to the independent status of Lamar Institute of Technology, to research conducted by public universities and other state entities, and to the authorization of revenue bonds for certain institutions of higher education.

TX HB1595

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.

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 SB1560

Relating to university funding, including university funding for excellence, the national research university fund, the abolition of the higher education fund, and the institutional groupings established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

TX HB2765

Relating to the creation of the Texas competitive knowledge fund to support excellence at qualifying institutions of higher education.