81R561 CAS-F
By: Watson S.B. No. 185
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a commission to prepare and recommend a
long-range plan for higher education in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.4011 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.4011. COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND LONG-RANGE PLAN FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) In this section:
(1) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003, except that the term does not
include a public state college.
(2) "Institution of higher education," "medical and
dental unit," "public junior college," "public state college,"
"public technical institute," and "university system" have the
meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) A commission is established to conduct a study of issues
relating to the higher education system in this state and to
recommend for that system a long-range plan to meet the demands of a
global economy and a growing and diverse population.
(c) The commission is composed of 20 members as follows:
(1) 11 persons appointed by the commissioner of higher
education as follows:
(A) a representative of The University of Texas
System;
(B) a representative of The Texas A&M University
System;
(C) a representative of the University of Houston
System;
(D) a representative of the University of North
Texas System;
(E) a representative of the Texas Tech University
System;
(F) a representative of the Texas State
University System;
(G) a representative of the Texas State Technical
College System;
(H) a representative of the leading association
of Texas junior and community colleges;
(I) a representative of the leading association
of independent colleges and universities in Texas;
(J) a student enrolled at a general academic
teaching institution; and
(K) a student enrolled at a public junior
college;
(2) six persons who are not affiliated with a
particular university system, appointed as follows, with
consideration given to providing for ethnic, racial, gender, and
geographic diversity among the members of the commission:
(A) two persons appointed by the governor, at
least one of whom has demonstrated leadership and success in
business;
(B) two persons appointed by the lieutenant
governor, at least one of whom has demonstrated leadership and
success in business; and
(C) two persons appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives, at least one of whom has demonstrated
leadership and success in business;
(3) two members of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board appointed by the chair of the coordinating
board; and
(4) the state demographer.
(d) Appointments to the commission under Subsection (c)
shall be made not later than October 1, 2009.
(e) The governor shall designate as the presiding officer
of the commission a member of the commission who is not affiliated
with a particular university system or public or private
institution of higher education.
(f) The commission may request from any institution of
higher education or other state agency assistance or information
and, to the extent permissible under state and federal law and to
the extent practicable, the institution or agency shall provide the
assistance or information requested.
(g) The expenses of the commission shall be paid in equal
amounts from the contingent expense accounts of the senate and the
house of representatives, or as otherwise agreed to by the
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives. Members of the commission serve without
compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses
incurred in carrying out the commission's duties.
(h) The commission may study any issue the commission
determines to be important to the future of higher education in this
state, including:
(1) incentives, including concurrent enrollment and
dual credit courses, and related requirements to facilitate
seamless student transitions between and among high schools, public
junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state
colleges, general academic teaching institutions, private and
independent institutions of higher education, and medical and
dental units;
(2) methods to improve communication and coordination
between institutions of higher education and the business community
to:
(A) create pathways to careers for students; and
(B) enhance curricula in a manner that will
benefit students, businesses, and the overall economy of the state;
(3) concerns regarding current and projected student
enrollment and enrollment capacity at The University of Texas at
Austin and Texas A&M University in College Station and methods for
ensuring that those elite institutions remain competitive with
other public and private flagship institutions of higher education;
(4) the creation of additional public flagship
research institutions of higher education, including studying
methods for:
(A) selecting the locations of those
institutions, including consideration of the feasibility of
selecting the locations through:
(i) a bidding or other competitive process
among communities in this state; or
(ii) solicitation of proposals from
existing public or private institutions of higher education,
businesses, or other appropriate entities; and
(B) ensuring that those additional flagship
institutions admit a qualified and diverse student body;
(5) methods:
(A) that can be used to identify the mission,
areas of specialization, and unique attributes of each institution
of higher education; and
(B) that the institutions can use to better
coordinate among themselves and to further develop, enhance, and
promote their respective missions;
(6) criteria for establishment of new graduate
programs;
(7) alternative methods of funding institutions of
higher education, with emphasis on studying how research
universities should be funded; and
(8) the TEXAS grant, Texas educational opportunity
grant, tuition equalization grant, and other financial aid
programs, including whether to add to the TEXAS grant program a
component that targets students at the preschool and primary and
secondary school levels to encourage those students to commit to
and succeed in higher education programs and that may include a
work-study requirement.
(i) Based on the commission's study under Subsection (h),
the commission shall prepare a report, including findings,
recommendations, and any proposed legislation the commission
determines would be beneficial to further the commission's
recommendations. The report must include recommendations for
improving financial aid programs to ensure that the maximum number
of eligible students receive financial aid and that a minimum
number of students are burdened with debt as a result of attending
institutions of higher education. Not later than October 1, 2010,
the commission shall submit the report to the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
presiding officer of each legislative standing committee or
subcommittee with jurisdiction over higher education.
(j) This section expires January 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. 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.