81R1998 JSA-D
By: Branch H.B. No. 51
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to funding and other measures to support emerging public
research universities in developing and maintaining programs of the
highest tier.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:
(n) In addition to the other funding recommendations
required by this section, biennially the board shall determine the
amount that the board considers appropriate to adequately fund the
programs authorized by Section 61.0593 in the following state
fiscal biennium to carry out the purposes of that section and shall
make recommendations to the governor and the Legislative Budget
Board for funding those programs in that biennium.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0593 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0593. RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. (a)
In this section, "emerging research university" means an
institution of higher education that the board determines:
(1) is a research university as that term is commonly
used in classifying or ranking institutions of higher education;
and
(2) has demonstrated a commitment to developing and
maintaining degree and research programs that support the mission
of the institution and the institution's efforts to improve its
ranking among research universities.
(b) To enable emerging research universities to attract and
retain the most capable students, faculty, and researchers,
maintain a highly trained and dynamic workforce, obtain financial
support for research and development, promote technology transfer
and innovation in order to contribute to this state's
competitiveness in the global economy, and develop and maintain
relevant degree and research programs that are comparable in
quality to similar programs at research universities of the highest
tier, the board shall administer a program to provide funding and
other assistance to emerging research universities.
(c) From money available for the purpose, the board may
award a grant to an emerging research university:
(1) to match money the university receives in
connection with a major research grant;
(2) to match money the university commits to the
recruitment or retention of faculty or research staff who have been
recognized for professional excellence; and
(3) to match gifts or grants made or pledged to the
university that the board determines will be used to promote other
purposes of this section.
(d) From money available for the purpose, the board may
award a matching grant to an emerging research university to
support any of the following activities to the extent the board
determines the activity promotes the purposes of this section:
(1) merit-based scholarships or other merit-based
financial aid for undergraduate students;
(2) graduate student fellowships;
(3) faculty professorships and chairs;
(4) research support, including the acquisition and
maintenance of research facilities, infrastructure, and equipment;
(5) efforts to recruit and retain at-risk
undergraduate students; and
(6) efforts to recruit and train students in fields
for which the state or local workforce has a critical need.
(e) In awarding a matching grant to a university under this
section, the board may provide state money only to match money
available to the university obtained or pledged from private or
community sources, including gifts and grants, or from other
nontraditional or alternative sources.
(f) In awarding a grant under this section, the board shall
consider:
(1) the demonstrated commitment of the university to
undergraduate research education;
(2) the amount of research funding the institution has
obtained or committed annually per full-time faculty member;
(3) the professional achievements and recognition of
the institution's faculty, including election to a national
academy;
(4) the demonstrated commitment and success of the
university in developing and maintaining degree and research
programs described by Subsection (b);
(5) the level of community support for the
university's efforts to develop and maintain such programs; and
(6) the relative contribution the grant is likely to
make in carrying out the purposes of this section.
(g) In addition to funding under this section, the board
shall provide leadership and other resources as the board considers
appropriate to assist emerging research institutions in this state
to carry out the purposes of this section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.