TX
Texas Senate Bill SB1560

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1560

Filed
 
Out of Senate Committee
4/24/09  
Voted on by House
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

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.

Impact

The bill's implementation involves the repeal of the existing higher education fund, redirecting those resources into the national research university fund. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will play a pivotal role in overseeing this fund, including setting eligibility criteria for institutions to receive financial distributions. This move indicates a shift towards a performance-based funding model that emphasizes research capacity and institutional achievements, directly influencing state laws pertaining to higher education financing.

Summary

SB1560 proposes significant changes to the funding framework for higher education institutions in Texas, particularly focusing on the establishment of the national research university fund. This fund aims to provide a dedicated, independent, and equitable source of funding for emerging research universities, helping them to achieve national prominence as major educational institutions. The bill seeks to bolster the financial stability of these universities, which are critical for advancing research and educational quality in Texas.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its goals of enhancing the landscape of higher education, it also raises concerns regarding the exclusion of some notable universities from eligibility for these funds, specifically the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Prairie View A&M University. Critics argue that this could create disparities in funding and resources among Texas universities, potentially undermining the overall quality and competitive nature of the state's higher education system. Thus, some legislators and educational stakeholders are concerned about the long-term implications of creating a tiered funding structure based solely on emerging research status.

Latest TX SB1560 Activity

View All Events: TX 2009 - 81st Regular SB1560

Companion Bills

TX HB4453

Identical 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.

TX SJR35

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 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

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 SB1058

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

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 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 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 SB1489

Relating to prohibiting the investment of the permanent university fund, the national research university fund, or money held by a public institution of higher education in financial companies that boycott certain energy companies.

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 HB4453

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.

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 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.