Texas House Bill HJR136

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a permanent endowment to support the construction, acquisition, improvement, and equipping of buildings, facilities, and other improvements at public junior and community colleges.

Impact

If enacted, HJR136 will significantly impact the educational landscape in Texas by ensuring that junior and community colleges have access to resources required for development and improvement. The amendment stipulates that the fund will consist of revenues transferred or deposited from the state and any returns on investments made from the fund's assets. The legislature will be responsible for managing this fund, ensuring that distributions to eligible college districts occur in a manner that maintains a predictable stream of funding while safeguarding the purchasing power of the endowment over time.

Summary

HJR136 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment aimed at establishing a permanent endowment specifically for public junior and community colleges. The primary objective of this amendment is to create a dedicated, independent, and stable source of funding that can support the construction, acquisition, improvement, and equipping of necessary facilities at these educational institutions. This endowment will be considered an essential financial resource that will not only aid in maintaining existing facilities but also promote advancements within community college infrastructure across the state.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HJR136 involves the implications of its funding mechanics. The proposal states that at the start of each state fiscal year, ten percent of funds deposited into the economic stabilization fund will be transferred to the new public community college fund. Critics might argue about the priorities of fund allocations in a state with competing educational and social needs. Additionally, the potential reliance on the economic stabilization fund raises questions about the long-term sustainability of this funding model during economic downturns.