Summary of Higher Education Legislation - 77th Legislature

SUMMARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION

77th LEGISLATURE

TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD Office of Governmental Relations/Public Information

P.O. Box 12788 • Austin, TX 78711-2788 (512) 427-6111

July 2001

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender,

religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.

TABLE OF CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION .............................................. 1 LEGISLATION THAT PASSED .......................................................................................... 1 LEGISLATION THAT FAILED TO PASS ............................................................................ 11 HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING ................................................................................. 17 MAJOR INCREASES FOR EACH SECTOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION ................................... 17 SELECTED COORDINATING BOARD RIDERS.................................................................. 19 CONTINGENCY RIDERS ............................................................................................... 22 HIGHER EDUCATION SPECIAL PROVISION RIDERS........................................................ 22 OTHER AGENCY / INSTITUTION RIDERS........................................................................ 23 ARTICLE IX RIDERS .................................................................................................... 24 ADMISSIONS ................................................................................................................. 25 COMMUNITY / TECHNICAL COLLEGES ..................................................................... 27 COORDINATING BOARD / AGENCY OPERATIONS................................................... 28 DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION (TASP) ................................................................... 29 EDUCATOR PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT & RETENTION .................................. 30 FACULTY ...................................................................................................................... 32 FINANCIAL AID ............................................................................................................ 33 HEALTH-RELATED ...................................................................................................... 35 INSTITUTIONAL OPERATIONS .................................................................................... 38 MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................................................................ 38 P-16 INITIATIVES........................................................................................................... 40 PLANNING ..................................................................................................................... 41 PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS .......................................................................................... 42 RESEARCH .................................................................................................................... 43 ROLE & MISSION / INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES ......................................................... 44 TECHNOLOGY / ENGINEERING .................................................................................. 48 TRANSFER .................................................................................................................... 49 TUITION AND FEES ...................................................................................................... 50 TUITION AND FEES – WAIVERS & EXEMPTIONS ..................................................... 53 TUITION REVENUE BONDS ........................................................................................... 54

i

1

HIGHLIGHTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION

77th Texas Legislature

LEGISLATION THAT PASSED

ADMISSIONS

• HB 1387 – allows separate rankings to be used in determining which students qualify for automatic admission to Texas public institutions of higher education under the top 10 percent law for magnet school students and traditional high school students on the same high school campus

• HB 1641 – outlines factors that may be used to make admissions or scholarship

decisions at the state’s public graduate and professional schools; prohibits the use of standardized test results as the sole admission criteria

COMMUNITY / TECHNICAL COLLEGES

• HB 1754 – authorizes a member of the governing board of a community college district to serve the remainder of the term to which the trustee was elected after the redistricting of a community college district

• HB 2349 – reassigns the Marble Falls Independent School District from the Austin

Community College service area to the Central Texas College service area

• HB 2459 – requires the board of trustees of a community college district to re-divide the district into the appropriate number of districts with an equal number of inhabitants in each district

• HB 3258 – transfers the territory within the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent

School District in Gonzales County from the Victoria College District Service Area to the Austin Community College District Service Area

• SB 1014 – transfers Rockdale ISD from the Blinn College District service area to the

Temple Junior College District service area COORDINATING BOARD / AGENCY OPERATIONS

• HB 249 – provides that a computer system vulnerability report is not subject to public disclosure and requires a state agency whose manager has prepared a vulnerability report to prepare a summary of the report that excludes information that might compromise security to be made available to the public on request

• HB 1922 – requires each state agency that collects information about an individual to

prominently state that the individual is entitled to receive and review the information collected; mandates each agency to establish a reasonable procedure for correcting personal information without imposing a charge on the individual, unless the provision conflicts with the open record requirements

2

LEGISLATION THAT PASSED (CONTINUED)

• HB 2589 – requires the Department of Information Resources to create a terms of service statement for state agency Internet sites and to establish and administer a clearinghouse for information relating to all aspects of protecting the security of state agency information

• SB 187 – establishes the TexasOnline Authority to implement a project designated as

TexasOnline that provides a common electronic system using the Internet for transactions between state or local government and members of the public

• SB 799 – requires each state agency to conduct an exit interview with an employee who

leaves employment with the agency by having the employee access the questionnaire posted on the state auditor's Internet site and electronically submit the completed questionnaire to the state auditor

DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION (TEXAS ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAM)

• HB 234 – exempts active duty military personnel from TASP requirements

• HB 1645 – exempts a transfer student from an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education who has met requirements of certain skill areas from the TASP test requirement

• HB 2109 – exempts from the TASP a person who graduates from a public high school or

accredited private high school in any state with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent and who has completed certain curriculum requirements, if that person enrolls in an institution of higher education on or before the second anniversary of the date the student graduated from high school

EDUCATOR PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT, & RETENTION

• HB 704 – requires the TEA to establish the Careers to Classroom Program to assist individuals in obtaining certification as an elementary or secondary school teacher or educational aide, and to facilitate the employment of those persons in school districts in Texas that have a high number of educationally disadvantaged students and a shortage of certified teachers in critical shortage areas or fields and or a shortage of educational aides

• HB 1130 – amends certain provisions of the Educational Aide Exemption Program to

expand the number of teacher aides who are eligible to receive the exemption from tuition and fees, and requires school districts and universities to adopt plans designed to facilitate the use of the program and increase the number of certified teachers in Texas

• HB 1721 – authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a certificate to

an educator from another state or country that has performed satisfactorily on an exam similar to and at least as rigorous as the ExCET

• SB 998 – authorizes persons who have worked in an alternative education program or a

juvenile justice education program for three years to take the ExCET without completing an alternative educator certification program

3


• SB 1057 – makes several changes to the administration of the TEXAS Grant Program, separates the Teach for Texas Grant Program from the TEXAS Grant Program,

establishes the Teach for Texas Grant Program for alternative certification students, and modifies the classroom teacher loan repayment assistance program

FACULTY

• HB 1127 – provides standards governing the dates by which institutions of higher education must issue contracts or employment agreements to full-time faculty members

• HB 2397 – requires the Coordinating Board to conduct a study and to produce a report

on the disparity between the salary and benefits received by part-time and full-time faculty members at public institutions of higher education

FINANCIAL AID

• HB 1187 – requires the Texas Workforce Commission to establish a new Parents as Scholars pilot program that allows program participants to fulfill the work or employment activities required for financial assistance by engaging in educational activities designed to result in receipt of a postsecondary degree

• HB 1575 – authorizes the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of

education loans for dental hygienists who practice in underserved areas of Texas

• HB 1755 – authorizes a licensing authority to suspend or deny the renewal of any state-issued license for a chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or medical doctor who has been found to be delinquent in the repayment of an educational loan or scholarship contract

• HB 2323 – requires the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of

law school education loans for an attorney who provides legal services to the indigent and to provide repayment assistance for loans accrued by law graduates who work in a district or county attorney's office in a rural area

• HB 2766 – authorizes the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of

education loans for attorneys who work for the Office of the Attorney General

• SB 40 – requires the Coordinating Board to establish and administer a tuition assistance program for vocational nursing students attending any school or program in this state and who agree following licensure as a licensed vocational nurse to practice in a long-term care facility in the state

• SB 149 – updates names and statutory references to clarify program requirements of the

Tuition Equalization Program

• SB 1596 – establishes the TEXAS Grant II Program to provide grants to eligible students to attend Texas public community and technical colleges and requires the Coordinating Board to administer the program

4


HEALTH-RELATED

• HB 42 – authorizes the Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the board of regents of the Texas A&M University System, to conduct a feasibility study regarding an affiliation or coordinating agreement between the board of regents and any institution of higher education to provide the clinical education necessary to support a doctor of medicine degree program at the university

• HB 1124 – establishes a community healthcare awareness and mentoring program to

identify, encourage, and support potential health care professionals from rural and underserved urban areas

• HB 2421 – requires the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to establish a program to

encourage students from rural areas to study medicine and return to the rural community to practice

• HB 2510 – requires the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System to

establish the Texas Tech Diabetes Research Center for researching diabetes and factors associated with the disease

• HB 2584 – creates the Commission on Geriatrics Study Requirement for Medical School

to assess the feasibility or desirability of making the study of geriatrics a requisite for graduation from a medical school in this state

• SB 31 – requires all college and university students be provided with information

regarding the risks, symptoms, and vaccine for bacterial meningitis and the availability of a vaccine to students through the student health center

• SB 126 – establishes the Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program to recruit

health professionals other than physicians to practice in medically underserved communities by providing them with loan reimbursement or a stipend

• SB 505 – authorizes a medical and dental unit to require students at the institution to

obtain health insurance coverage upon enrollment

• SB 572 – establishes the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program to provide incentives to increase enrollment in and faculty of professional nursing programs and requires the Coordinating Board to administer the program

• SB 837 – requires the governing board of the Border Health Institute to develop a 10-

year strategic plan and update the plan biennially

• SB 940 – establishes the Joint Admission Medical Program to assist certain economically disadvantaged students in preparing for and succeeding in medical school

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATIONS

• HB 1545 – amends provisions relating to the operation, regulation, and administration of public institutions of higher education

5


• SB 826 – authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to operate a school or program or hold a class on the campus of an institution of higher education regardless of whether the institution of higher education is located within the boundaries of the school district

• SB 1419 – eliminates the statute of limitations in certain civil proceedings involving the

public institutions of higher education or Coordinating Board MISCELLANEOUS

• HB 82 – provides tax exemptions for the first $5,000 of total receipts raised by qualified student organizations

• HB 2787 – prohibits certain public universities from issuing a vehicle permit to a student

whose vehicle has not passed the vehicle emissions inspection

• HB 3590 – establishes the Texas Fund for Geography Education under the Coordinating Board and creates a seven-member advisory committee to propose funding recommendations that would support geographic education programs

• HB 3699 – specifies that an institution of higher education entitled to allocated funds

under the equitable allocation formula is authorized to transfer the allocated funds to other eligible member institutions

• SB 263 – requires the governing board of each institution of higher education to adopt a

policy regulating travel that is undertaken by one or more students enrolled at the institution to reach an activity or event that is located more than 25 miles from the institution, is organized and sponsored by the institution, is funded by the institution, uses a vehicle owned or leased by the institution, or is required by a student organization registered at the institution

• SB 555 – establishes a qualified higher education savings plan to be administered by the

Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board with investments in the plan managed by a private firm

• SB 903 – requires the Coordinating Board to administer the women's athletic

development fund to reduce the disparity between women's and men's athletics; requires the CB to conduct a best practices study of women’s athletic programs currently operated by public institutions of higher education in Texas and in other states

• SB 1818 – grants the same powers and duties of eminent domain to the Texas A&M

University System Board that are already granted to the governing boards of the University of Texas System and the Texas State University System

P-16 INITIATIVES

• HB 400 – requires the Coordinating Board to implement the Higher Education Assistance Pilot Program to provide prospective students with assistance and information on admissions and enrollment at institutions of higher education; requires school districts and public institutions of higher education to work together to create a plan to increase enrollment rates at institutions of higher education

6


• HB 1144 – makes the Recommended High School Program the default curriculum for graduation at public high schools; directs the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Education to ensure student performance records are compatible; establishes new ratings for schools and districts; establishes the Master Math Teacher Program to reward expert instructors with annual bonuses

• SB 82 – extends the option to take dual credit junior college courses to private high

school students

• SB 158 – requires school counselors to provide information to students and their parents regarding the importance of higher education and availability of financial assistance

• SB 573 – requires the Coordinating Board to establish a statewide public awareness

campaign to increase the number of students enrolled at higher education institutions in Texas

PLANNING

• HB 1799 – requires the Coordinating Board to complete a periodic comprehensive statewide plan that provides information and guidance to policymakers to ensure the current and future needs for adequate higher education services are met in each region of this state

PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS

• HB 1985 – makes revisions to the law governing the regulation of proprietary schools

• SB 554 – authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission to establish and administer the Texas Career Opportunity Grant Program to provide tuition assistance to Texas students enrolled in a qualified education program at eligible proprietary schools, public technical institutes and certain postsecondary education programs

• SB 1205 – clarifies that a short course of instruction of 24 classroom hours or less and

for which the tuition or fee is less than $500 is exempt from regulation under the provisions for proprietary schools provided that the course meets certain conditions

RESEARCH

• HB 1716 – establishes the San Antonio Life Science Institute to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs in the life sciences

• HB 1839 – creates the Texas Excellence Fund and the University Research Fund to

support and maintain educational and general activities, including research and student services, that promote increased research capacity and develop institutional excellence; requires the Comptroller’s office to administer and invest the fund

• SB 1840 – requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System and the

Coordinating Board to conduct a study evaluating the benefits of operating The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as a single research university

7


ROLE AND MISSION / INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

• HB 323 – creates a Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at The University of Texas at Brownsville

• HB 753 – authorizes The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to jointly

prescribe courses and jointly conduct graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels related to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

• HB 910 – formally establishes The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center

South Texas Center for Rural Public Health to deliver health education outreach programs, deliver and provide community based instructional sites for the education of rural residents to public health professionals

• HB 1640 – authorizes the creation of a professional school of pharmacy at Texas A&M

University-Kingsville

• HB 1685 – authorizes the governing boards of general academic teaching institutions or medical or dental schools to establish a partnership or affiliation with other entities to offer or conduct courses for academic credit or to offer degree programs

• HB 1753 – authorizes The University of Texas-Pan American to establish an upper-

division extension campus in Rio Grande City and enter into a partnership agreement with a junior college district for lower-division courses

• HB 2054 – expands Texas Southern University's statutory purpose statement to reflect

its similarities to other general academic institutions

• HB 2344 – removes the enrollment cap on the number of lower-division students enrolled at The University of Texas at Brownsville preceding the 2005-2006 academic

• HB 2840 – authorizes the establishment of a partnership agreement between Texas

A&M University-Texarkana and the Texarkana College District and allows a student enrolled at Texarkana College to simultaneously enroll at Texas A&M University-Texarkana as long as the student meets the requirements for enrollment at the university

• HB 3309 – creates the Southeast Texas Biotechnology Park in the Texas Medical

Center-University Corridor in Houston

• SB 576 – authorizes the University of North Texas at Dallas to operate as a general academic teaching institution with its own chief executive officer, administration, and faculty only after the Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at the University of North Texas System Center at Dallas has reached an enrollment equivalent to 2,500 full-time students for one semester

• SB 989 – amends the statutory provision regarding Prairie View A&M University's legally

mandated purpose and role in Texas higher education

• SB 1429 – establishes the Center for Relationship Violence Prevention and Intervention at Prairie View A&M University

8

LEGISLATION THAT PASSED (CONTINUED) TECHNOLOGY / ENGINEERING

• HB 3028 – requires the Coordinating Board to conduct an annual state science and engineering fair as part of an outreach program for middle school, junior high school, and high school students

• SB 353 – establishes the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium, a public-private

partnership to promote education in the engineering and computer science fields

• SB 1190 – authorizes institutions to establish and administer centers to commercialize technology which they own or in which they own an interest

TRANSFER

• HB 1359 – requires the Coordinating Board to develop field of study curricula for a certain number of degree programs that are in high-demand; requires each institution of higher education to publish its practices in transferring course credits between institutions

TUITION AND FEES

• HB 120 – authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a student intercollegiate athletic fee at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

• HB 152 – creates a special summer tuition rate pilot program for certain students

enrolled for a summer term or session at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville

• HB 461 – authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to impose a

recreational fee on students

• HB 462 – authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to levy student fees for medical services

• HB 467 – authorizes of the board of regents of Texas Woman's University to levy

student fees for medical services

• HB 1023 – authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to increase the maximum recreational sports fee

• HB 1024 – Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to

raise the maximum student center complex fee

• HB 1403 – classifies a non-United States citizen as a Texas resident if they meet certain criteria

• HB 1465 – requires the Coordinating Board to establish a pilot project to measure the

impact of reducing tuition rates for community college courses at times of low enrollment demand

9


• HB 1467 – allows the governing board of a community college to establish the percentage set aside for the Texas Public Education Grant Program at a level between 6 and 20 percent of hourly tuition

• HB 1941 – reduces from one year to six months the time period that a family member of

military personnel must have previously lived in Texas to qualify for paying resident tuition and fees

• HB 2218 – authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education, other

than The University of Texas at Austin, to increase the international education fee charged and collected from students registered at the institution contingent on the majority vote of a student referendum

• HB 2531 – increases tuition for resident students at general academic teaching

institutions over the next five years

• HB 2575 – increases the maximum limit of aggregate student services fees that an institution is authorized to charge from $150 to $250

• HB 3524 – authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to

establish a flat rate tuition pilot project at The University of Texas at Austin

• SB 462 – authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to levy student fees for medical services

• SB 627 – authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose

an intercollegiate athletics fee at The University of Texas at Tyler

• SB 628 – authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a recreational facility fee at The University of Texas at Tyler

• SB 743 – provides that the foreign student tuition fee does not apply to certain foreign

students who register for courses that are a part of a graduate degree program in public health and that are conducted in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides; adds a tuition and fee exemption for foreign service officers

• SB 1472 – raises the cap on the general property deposit that can be charged to a

student of a public institution of higher education from $10 to $100 and makes the collection of the fee permissive rather than mandatory

• SB 1498 – authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose

a recreational facility fee on all students at The University of Texas at Arlington

• SB 1814 – requires each board to set a rate of tuition for a law school and a graduate or professional pharmacy program at a level that is three times the amount specified by current law

10


TUITION AND FEES – WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS

• HB 459 – amends current law to allow the children of deceased or disabled police officers or firefighters to receive an exemption from tuition and fees for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit hours rather than eight consecutive semesters

• HB 877 – exempts a surviving spouse or minor child of a law enforcement officer,

firefighter or other public safety workers killed in the line of duty, from tuition and fees and the cost of housing, food, and textbooks at a Texas public institution of higher education

• HB 2279 – extends the time limit from the one-year anniversary to the two-year

anniversary of high school graduation for an eligible Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) student to enroll in a Texas public higher education institution and be exempt from tuition and fees

TUITION REVENUE BONDS

• HB 658 – provides over $1 billion in new tuition revenue bonds at certain universities and university systems to fund infrastructure projects at the specified institutions.

11

LEGISLATION THAT FAILED TO PASS ADMISSIONS

• HB 47 – would have required each general academic teaching institution to admit an applicant with a degree from a community college or technical institute in Texas, contingent upon the institution having space available for the admission of additional students

• HB 112 – would have made the Recommended High School Program the default

curriculum for graduation at public high schools and a requirement to enroll in a public four-year institution of higher education (see HB 1144, a similar bill that passed)

• HB 286 – would have required institutions of higher education to evaluate students that

have completed a nontraditional secondary education program in accordance with the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission

• HB 843 – would have made automatic admission of high school graduates in the top 10

percent of their class an option, rather than a mandate, for institutions of higher education

• HB 954 – would have prohibited Texas institutions of higher education from considering

an applicant's relationship to alumni or university donors when making admission decisions

• HB 1029 – would have required the continuation of an on-campus provisional admission

program at The University of Texas at Austin

• HB 1565 – would have required colleges and universities to automatically admit the top 5 percent of high school graduates rather than the top 10 percent

• HB 1942 – would have qualified a spouse or dependent child of a member of the armed

forces of the United States who graduates from high school outside Texas for automatic admission to institutions of higher education under the top 10 percent law; would have entitled those automatically admitted to pay resident tuition

• HB 1946 – would have prohibited certain institutions of higher education from assigning

a weight of more than 20 percent for standardized test performance in the overall decision making process for admitting an applicant or from considering that performance without considering all other relevant factors

• HB 1984 – would have established the Uniform Student Admission Act to provide for a

fair and uniform standard in undergraduate admissions

• HB 2386 – would have required that applicants who graduate with a baccalaureate degree in the top 10 percent of their graduating class be automatically admitted to the graduate or professional degree program they apply to at an institution of higher education

• HB 2483 – would have prohibited an institution of higher education from admitting any

person who is not a Texas resident unless the institution previously offered admission to every Texas resident who applied and met other requirements

12

LEGISLATION THAT FAILED TO PASS (CONTINUED)

• SB 974 – would have required high school students to take, at a minimum, the Recommended High School Program to be eligible for automatic admission to a general academic teaching institution under the top 10 percent law

ADULT EDUCATION

• HB 1690 – would have transferred adult and community education programs from the Texas Education Agency to the Coordinating Board

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

• SJR 1 – would have allowed public school teachers and faculty members at public colleges and universities to serve in the Legislature

• SJR 31 – would have temporarily waived sovereign immunity for persons wanting to sue

the state for bodily injuries and death sustained during the Texas A&M bonfire accident • SJR 44 – would have made The University of Texas institutions at Dallas, El Paso,

Permian Basin, San Antonio and Tyler eligible for the Available University Fund Excellence Fund

• HJR 78 – would have changed the distribution of income from the Permanent University

Fund to increase distribution of income for Prairie View A&M University DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION (TEXAS ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAM)

• HB 125 – would have abolished the TASP and replaced it with the 11th grade TAAS • HB 1648 – would have abolished the TASP

• HB 1724 – would have created a pilot program through which the TASP would be

administered to 11th and 12th grade students

• HB 2775 – would have exempted from the TASP students who graduated from a Texas public high school at least 10 years prior to enrolling in a college and university

• HB 3138 – would have authorized the Commissioner of Education to assign all or part of

the costs of remedial education to school districts that consistently graduate students who need developmental education

• HB 3620 – would have restructured TASP as the Developmental Education Program

(DEP) and provided for additional exemptions from the DEP test

• SB 1141 – would have eliminated the TASP and required colleges and universities to use their own diagnostic tests to assess entering students for reading, writing and math skills

DISTANCE LEARNING

• SB 1039 – would have provided for the development of all core curriculum courses to be delivered online through the Internet or other distance learning techniques

13

LEGISLATION THAT FAILED TO PASS (CONTINUED) FACULTY

• HB 1014 – would have required universities to determine whether their faculty salaries are less than average compared to the 10 most populous states

• HB 2269 – would have required that faculty members receive adequate notice of

meetings relating to potential adverse personnel actions, and would have entitled a faculty member to have a representative present during such a meeting

• SB 924 – would have required the Coordinating Board to develop a uniform strategy to

enable colleges and universities to recruit faculty reflecting the population of the state

• SB 995 – would have required the Coordinating Board to establish the Texas Graduate Studies Tuition and Fee Exemption Program to provide incentives for minority community college faculty to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees

FINANCIAL AID

• HB 140 – would have required institutions of higher education to reimburse veterans who received tuition exemptions for the cost of textbooks and similar required course materials

• HB 324 – would have exempted college textbooks from the state sales tax when

purchased by part-time or full-time students at a public or private university • HB 733 / SB 706 – would have created the Texas Rising Star Scholarship Program for

deserving public community and technical college students with financial need

• HB 1576 – would have allowed financial aid officers to package a TEXAS Grant with TEG funds up to the maximum TEG amount, not to exceed the tuition and fees charged to a student, to increase the total amount of aid a college's neediest students may receive to pay college expenses

• HB 1672 – would have removed the requirement to graduate from an accredited private

high school to be eligible to receive a TEXAS Grant, which would have qualified home-schooled students for the grant

• HB 2292 – would have required the Coordinating Board to establish a tuition assistance

program for psychology, counseling and social work students who agreed to provide professional services, upon licensure, to state prison inmates

• HB 2547 – would have provided tuition and fee refunds for Texas Southern University

and Prairie View A&M University students who completed the first semester with at least a 2.0 GPA and would have provided tuition and fee exemptions for students who completed the next year and a half with at least a 2.0 GPA

• SB 210 – would have required recipients of the Early High School Graduation

Scholarship Program to complete the Recommended or Advanced High School Program

14


• SB 1274 – would have created the Texas First Generation Scholars Program to award grants to colleges and universities to develop mentoring programs for undergraduate

• low-income, first-generation students or minority students who desire to enter the faculty ranks, with the grants awarded through the Coordinating Board

MISCELLANEOUS

• HB 586 – would have made a delinquent child support obligor or a business entity in which a delinquent obligor has certain interests ineligible to receive specified state funds, grants, or loans

PLANNING

• HB 1804 – would have authorized the Educational Productivity Council at The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education to develop a database of information on the performance of students attending public schools and public institutions of higher education

• HB 3053 – would have required the Coordinating Board to develop specific policies and

strategies to assist public and private entities and public officials to achieve a coordinated educational system that meets the needs of all people in Texas, including employers

• SB 349 – would have established the Commission on 21st Century Colleges and

Universities through 2013

• SB 1186 – would have required the Coordinating Board to provide on its Web site certain performance measures of general academic teaching institutions in a user-friendly format

• SB 1260 – would have allowed the Comptroller to conduct performance reviews on

colleges and universities (the Comptroller, Coordinating Board or institution could have requested a review)

RESEARCH

• HB 2356 – would have required universities each fiscal year to transfer to the General Revenue Fund 25 percent of royalties received from intellectual property

• HB 2365/SB 1013 – would have required the Legislature each biennium to appropriate

to Prairie View A&M University funds sufficient enough to qualify for federal agricultural research, extension and education matching funds

• SB 449 – would have created the University Research Fund to provide excellence

funding to eligible research institutions

• SB 1567 – would have created the Emerging University Excellence Fund to provide funding to promote increased research capacity and to develop institutional excellence at PUF-eligible institutions, excluding The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University

15


• SB 1627 – would have created an atmosphere modification research center at Texas Tech University to conduct research on controlling precipitation

ROLE AND MISSION / INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

• HB 1129 – would have required the Governor and Senate to take into consideration the geographic diversity of the state when making appointments to university governing boards

• HB 1210 – would have required the board of regents of the University of North Texas to

establish and maintain a school of law within the city limits of Dallas

• HB 1211 – would have required the board of regents of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school of pharmacy at the University of North Texas

• HB 1814 – would have exempted certain postsecondary religious institutions from any

regulation by a Texas agency or political subdivision with respect to the content or character of the educational program of the institution

• HB 2521 – would have established a medical school at Prairie View A&M University

• HB 3469 – would have established a medical school at Prairie View A&M University

• HB 3568 – would have consolidated The University of Texas at Arlington and The

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas into The University of Texas at Dallas

• HB 3607 – would have transferred governance of The University of Texas System’s

Dallas-Fort Worth institutions to the University of North Texas, creating the University of North Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas at Dallas and University of North Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

• SB 75 – would have authorized the University of North Texas Health Science Center at

Fort Worth to establish and operate a facility, program or campus extension in any county

• SB 1303 – would have established a doctor of medicine degree program at the Texas

Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso STUDENTS

• HB 791 – would have required students to perform 28 hours of unpaid public service during one semester to be eligible to receive a bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education

TECHNOLOGY

• HB 660 – would have created the State Board for Career and Technology Education and amended several sections of the Education Code affecting school districts and the delivery/development of career and technology education. This bill passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by the Governor.

16


• HB 3300 – would have created the 21st Century Technology College And Careers grant program to strengthen and sustain existing partnerships in each region of the state so that they may better serve the academic and career interests of students and their parents, the workforce needs of employers, and the economic development goals of communities in the 21st century

TUITION AND FEES

• HB 528 – would have authorized the governing board of a junior college district to waive the foreign student tuition for a student who is a resident of Mexico, who registers for lower-division courses at a public junior college operated by the district, and who demonstrates a financial need

• HB 683 – would have prohibited colleges and universities from charging a student a fee

that would be used for organizations engaging in political or ideological activities unless the student authorizes use of the fee

• HB 2276 – would have provided a $500 tuition rebate to community college students

who earned an associate degree or certificate within three semester credit hours of the minimum required to complete the program

• SB 733 – would have allowed community colleges bordering Mexico to waive the foreign

student tuition for Mexican students who demonstrated financial need and would have allowed these students to pay Texas resident tuition

TUITION AND FEES – WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS

• HB 51 – would have allowed universities to provide undergraduate tuition and fee exemptions for children of public school teachers and librarians

• HB 172 – would have allowed universities and colleges to exempt peace officers

enrolled in criminal justice programs from tuition and fees

• HB 1120 – would have authorized tuition and fee exemptions for peace officers attending undergraduate courses

• HB 2980 – would have required institutions of higher education to exempt from tuition

and fees children of firefighters and peace officers

• HB 3004 – would have allowed colleges and universities to exempt from tuition and fees fire fighters disabled in the line of duty

17

HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING SB 1, General Appropriations Act (Ellis/Junell) – This section summarizes higher education appropriations. Information that follows is essentially correct, although some funding issues remain to be resolved at this time. APPROPRIATIONS

• The All Funds and General Revenue amounts shown below include the tobacco settlement money allocated to higher education institutions and the Coordinating Board in Article XII. Three different pay increase items are not included under higher education because they either cannot be identified by institution at this time or are contingent upon funds availability. More detail is presented in a later paragraph.

• The total budget (including all funds) for the State of Texas during the 2002-03 biennium

will be $113.8 billion, an increase of 15.87 percent. The total all funds budget for higher education will be $14.5 billion, 12.8 percent of the state budget. The following table shows the distribution of the higher education all funds appropriation (in millions) for the 2002-03 biennium:

Amount % of Approp. General Academic Institutions $5,252 36.12% Community/Junior Colleges 1,833 12.60 Health-Related Institutions 4,532 31.17 Technical & Lamar State Colleges 223 1.53 HEAF/Available University Fund 1,175 8.08 A&M University System Services 641 4.41 All Other Higher Education Agencies 847 5.83 System Trusteed Funds 37 .26 TOTAL $14,540 100%

• All funds (general revenue and consolidated funds) appropriated for higher education will increase by approximately $2.0 billion (15.8 percent). The following table shows the increase between the current biennium and the 2002-03 biennium all funds appropriation (in millions) for each sector.

Increase Amount Percent General Academic Institutions $492.6 10.35% Community/Junior Colleges 202.5 12.42 Health-Related Institutions 751.9 19.89 Technical & Lamar State Colleges 29.5 15.24 HEAF/Available University Fund 199.2 20.42 A&M University System Services 38.6 6.42 All Other Higher Education Agencies 265.8 45.71 System Trusteed Funds 4.9 15.00 TOTAL $1,985.0 15.81%

• The total general revenue budget for the State of Texas during the 2002-03 biennium will be $61.7 billion, an increase of 11.7 percent. General revenue appropriated for higher education for the 2002-03 biennium is approximately $9.7 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion (13.19 percent). Higher education funding constitutes 15.9 percent of the state’s total 2002-03 general revenue appropriations.

• The following table shows the distribution of the biennial general revenue appropriation

(in millions) for the 2002-03 biennium: Amount % of Approp. General Academic Institutions $4,016 41.25% Community/Junior Colleges 1833 18.82 Health-Related Institutions 2,201 22.61 Technical & Lamar State Colleges 189 1.94 HEAF/Available University Fund 449 4.61 A&M University System Services 330 3.39 All Other Higher Education Agencies 686 7.04 System Trusteed Funds 33 .34 TOTAL $9,737 100% The following table shows the increase between the current biennium and the 2002-03

biennium general revenue appropriation (in millions) for each sector. Increase Amount Percent General Academic Institutions $440.9 12.33% Community/Junior Colleges 202.5 12.42 Health-Related Institutions 187.9 9.33 Technical & Lamar State Colleges 24.6 14.97 HEAF/Available University Fund 0 0.00 A&M University System Services 11.3 3.54 All Other Higher Education Agencies 261.4 61.61 System Trusteed Funds 6.1 22.13 TOTAL $1,134.7 13.19%

• The totals for the health-related institutions include appropriations for Baylor College of Medicine – both the funds that are trusteed to the Coordinating Board as well as tobacco settlement proceeds from the endowment established for Baylor.

• The Legislature appropriated to the Coordinating Board $281.9 million in new trusteed

funds. Most of the increase will be used to fund the TEXAS Grant and Teach for Texas Grant Programs ($220.3 million) and additional TEG grants ($40 million). Overall the CB trusteed funds budget, including those reported under Baylor College of Medicine, will increase from $498.7 million to $780.7 million, or 56.5 percent.

• The Legislature appropriated $188.5 million ($89.9 million in general revenue and $88.6

million in other funds) to fund one half of a four percent or $100 per month non-faculty employee pay raise for all institutions and higher education agencies, except community colleges. In addition, the Legislature has provided that an additional non-faculty salary increase not to exceed three percent or $65 per month will occur in FY 2003 upon

18

• certification by the Comptroller that adequate funds are available to fund one half of the increase ($59.0 million). An additional $17.6 million has been appropriated to decrease the service interval between $20 per month increases in longevity pay from 5 years to 3 years. Corresponding increases for each of the three types above were provided for all other state agency employees, including the Coordinating Board. Lastly, $7.8 million in targeted pay raises was provided for selected state agency position classifications.

• Receipts collected pursuant to the Comprehensive Tobacco Settlement Agreement and

Release were appropriated in Article XII of the General Appropriations Act. Article XII also includes appropriated earnings on previously established permanent funds and endowments. Appropriations for the use of health-related and general academic institutions in 2002-03 total $91.35 million, or 90% of the corresponding $101.5 million for the 2000-01 biennium. (The 2000-01 appropriations also included an additional $11 million in one-time only appropriations.)

SELECTED COORDINATING BOARD RIDERS Rider #

21 This rider provides $5 million per year for Two Year Institution Growth and is to be used to assist public two-year institutions that experience dramatic rates of growth in contact hours during the 2002-03 biennium. Funds are to be allocated according to a formula developed by the Coordinating Board. Under this rider, institutions with growth in contact hours in RN professional nursing are to be funded fully prior to providing funding for growth in total contact hours.

29 This rider directs the Coordinating Board to take the unexpended balances from

funds appropriated to the TEXAS Grant Program for the 2000-01 biennium (including any excess amounts from the New Horizons Scholarship Program, Tuition Assistance Grants Program and the National Guard ROTC Program transferred into the TEXAS Grant Program remaining balance) and use them for the same purpose in 2002-03 biennium. If unexpended funds are remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2002, they are appropriated for Fiscal Year 2003. It is the intent of the legislature that the Coordinating Board plan the expenditure of new funding to the TEXAS Grant Program so that the program will not require an appropriation of greater than $381,000,000, plus any unexpended balances carried forward in the 2004-05 biennium.

33 This rider allows the Coordinating Board to allocate additional funds from the

TEXAS Grant Program into the Border Faculty Loan Repayment Program. In addition, the Coordinating Board is directed to take the unexpended balances from funds appropriated to the Border Faculty Loan Repayment Program for the 2000-01 biennium and use them for the same purpose in 2002-03 biennium. If unexpended funds are remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2002, they are appropriated for Fiscal Year 2003.

36 This rider directs the Coordinating Board to coordinate with TEA and the State

Board for Educator Certification regarding the sharing, integrating and housing pre-kindergarten through grade 16 (P-16) public education data. All three agencies are to work together to ensure that common and related data held by each agency is maintained in standardized, compatible formats to enable the efficient exchange of information between agencies and for matching of individual student records for longitudinally based studies and analysis.

19

37 Approximately $5.6 million per year is provided under this rider for General

Academic Institution Growth and is to be used to assist public institutions that experience dramatic rates of growth in weighted semester credit hours during the 2002-03 biennium. Funds are to be appropriated according to a formula developed by the Coordinating Board. Under this rider, general academic institutions with growth in weighted semester credit hours in RN professional nursing are to be funded fully prior to providing funding for growth in total weighted semester credit hours.

38 Approximately $723,719 per year is provided under this rider for Health-Related

Institution Nursing Enrollment Growth and is to be used to assist public health-related institutions that experience dramatic rates of growth in student full-time equivalents during the 2002-03 biennium.

39 Out of the funds appropriated, the Coordinating Board and its Common Application

Committee shall design and implement a pilot program for a college admission referral system to be administered at no cost to students. UT Austin will assist the Coordinating Board in developing the pilot program by providing the necessary modifications to the Common Application System. The system should be designed to refer and facilitate the admission of students who have been denied admission to their first choice to other Texas public higher education institutions. Participation by institutions will be on a voluntary basis. The program should begin in the Fall 2002 semester. The Coordinating Board, in conjunction with the institutions participating in the pilot program, will produce a report evaluating the pilot project no later than December 31, 2002.

40 Out of the funds appropriated, the Coordinating Board shall administer and

coordinate the Higher Education Assistance Pilot Program to provide prospective students in three separate sites across the state that have low college enrollment rates with information related to enrollment in public, private or independent institutions of higher education, including admissions and financial aid information; and assist these prospective students with completing admission and financial aid applications related to enrollment in higher education institutions. In designing the pilot program, the Coordinating Board shall ensure that it is reproducible by other entities in cities and counties across the state to enable them to develop similar programs to increase admissions to higher education institutions. The pilot program shall begin operation with the Spring 2002 semester. Not later than September 1, 2002, the Coordinating Board shall submit to the Legislature a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program, including recommendations on whether to implement the program on a statewide basis.

41 The Coordinating Board shall determine the feasibility of establishing an

agreement with private tax preparation firms to assist college applicants in completing the federal financial aid application. If determined that such an agreement would be feasible, the Coordinating Board shall negotiate the agreement and implement a pilot program beginning with the Spring 2002 semester and shall produce a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program no later than September 1, 2002.

42 Out of funds appropriated, the Coordinating Board, with the help of the Department

of Information Resources and the cooperation of any other relevant state agency, shall determine the extent to which data captured for other programs may be used to establish eligibility for student financial aid. The Coordinating Board shall report its findings to the Legislature no later than September 1, 2002, including any statutory changes necessary to allow and facilitate such data exchanges among agencies. The Coordinating Board shall report, at the time of discovery to the

20

SELECTED COORDINATING BOARD RIDERS CONTINUED Rider #

Governor and Legislative Budget Board, if it finds that assistance or flexibility from the federal government would facilitate the sharing of information used to establish eligibility for student financial aid.

43 The Coordinating Board shall convene a task force consisting of representatives

from each state-appropriated health science center and hospital, as well as selected representatives of hospitals and health care facilities that serve as teaching facilities with residency programs. Members of the task force shall be appointed by the Commissioner. The task force shall analyze all funding streams - local, state, and federal, and any other sources of revenue, public or private that support graduate and post-graduate medical education in the state of Texas. The task force shall recommend, to the Seventy-eighth Legislature by September 1, 2002, funding priorities that preserve the long-term viability of graduate and post-graduate medical education in Texas by improving graduate and post-graduate medical education’s service to Texas residents.

45 The Coordinating Board shall report graduation and persistence rates, for each

public general academic institution, to the Governor and Legislature no later than September 1, 2002.

46 Out of funds appropriated, the Coordinating Board shall develop a strategic plan to

increase the number of certified teachers in the state as quickly as possible. The Coordinating Board shall collaborate with the Texas Education Agency, The State Board for Educator Certification, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Governor’s Office, and the Legislature in development of the strategic plan.

47 This rider limits the state financial aid students attending independent colleges and

universities may receive. This rider also discloses the intent of the Legislature to give priority in TEXAS Grant funding to students with the greatest financial need who attend public colleges and universities.

48 This rider requires independent colleges and universities that enroll students

receiving appropriated Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) funds to provide annual reports by October 1 of each year to the Coordinating Board regarding the diversity of their student body, faculty, executive committee, and board of regents.

49 This rider directs the Coordinating Board to study the effects of the funding

formulas on institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and to report its findings to the Legislative Budget Board by September 1, 2002 along with any recommendations for a small college and university formula funding method.

50 This rider directs the Coordinating Board to conduct a study regarding the

development of an equitable mechanism to fund the Texas A&M University System Service Agencies’ infrastructure costs for facilities located in areas other than Brazos County.

51 This rider appropriates $1.9 million to provide new campus funding at Wharton

Junior College.

21

22

CONTINGENCY RIDERS Rider# 54 This rider relates to House Bill 3590, the National Geographic Society Texas Fund

for Geography Education. It provides $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2002 that will be matched by $500,000 from the Society to create an endowment that will be used to support grants for geography education.

55 This rider relates to Senate Bill 1596 - TEXAS Grant II Program for two-year

institutions and provides $10,000,000 in the 2002-03 biennium to implement the provisions of the Act. An additional $10,000,000 is contingent upon certification for the Comptroller of Public Accounts that sufficient revenue is available.

HIGHER EDUCATION SPECIAL PROVISION RIDERS Section# 44 This rider pertains to endowed chairs at general academic institutions. If a chair

remains unfilled for three years, the institution is required to provide a report disclosing the vacant status of the chair. Beginning with the annual performance measures report for Fiscal Year 2002, the institutions must report the average length of time the chairs have remained unfilled and the percent of endowed chairs unfilled within the fiscal year reported.

47 This rider pertains to donations for scholarships. If a state university fails to award

a scholarship for the first five years after receiving a donation that creates or endows a scholarship, the university shall annually notify the donor and the Coordinating Board of that failure and shall cause notice of that failure to be published in the Texas Register. In the event that the aggregate amount of such scholarships that have not been awarded reaches $250,000, the university shall also notify the Legislative Budget Board.

48 This rider pertains to endowed programs. A state university that, within five years

of receiving a donation, diminishes its financial support from local funds for a program created or endowed by the donor, shall notify the donor, the Coordinating Board and the Legislative Budget Board and shall cause that action to be published in the Texas Register. Upon application by the donor, the university shall return the donation or endowment.

51 This rider pertains to contingency appropriation for two-year institutions of higher

education. After and contingent upon the Comptroller providing notice to the Legislative Budget Board regarding a finding of fact that sufficient revenue is estimated to be available from the General Revenue Fund, and following approval by the Legislative Budget Board, $10,000,000 in General Revenue Funds are appropriated to the Comptroller of Public Accounts to finance an increase in the contact hour funding formula for two-year higher education institutions. Allocation of such amounts as available shall be made as approved the Legislative Budget Board.

53 This rider relates to a student housing pilot program. As part of the formula funding

study mandated in Coordinating Board Rider 49, the Coordinating Board shall provide for a pilot program at Sul Ross State University. The pilot program shall allow the university to use education and general funds for the limited purpose of providing student housing. The Coordinating Board and the university shall report the results of the pilot program to the Legislative Budget Board no later than January 2, 2003.

23

HIGHER EDUCATION SPECIAL PROVISION RIDERS CONTINUED Section#

54 This rider pertains to student travel policies. Each governing board of an institution

of higher education shall adopt a policy regulating travel that is undertaken by one or more students presently enrolled at the institution to reach an activity or event that is located more than 25 miles from the institution.

OTHER AGENCY/INSTITUTION RIDERS Agency/Rider # Comptroller/19 Authorizes the Comptroller, in conjunction with the Coordinating Board, to

conduct performance reviews of general academic institutions during the 2002-03 biennium

Prairie View A&M/2 Prairie View A&M is appropriated $12,350,000 in Fiscal Year 2002 and $12,650,000 plus Unexpended Balances in Fiscal Year 2003

for the Texas commitment to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Priority Plan.

Prairie View A&M/3 Prairie View A&M is required to work with the Texas A&M University

System and the Coordinating Board, Governor and the Legislative Budget Board in order to establish a detailed plan to accomplish the goal and create benchmarks and performance measures to be adopted in accordance with the OCR Priority Plan by September 1, 2001. They shall be reported semi annually by December 31 and June 30 to the institution’s Board of Regents, the Coordinating Board, the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board. Any funds not spent in the 2002-03 biennium will be transferred to the 2004-05 without any reduction in future funding for the OCR Priority Plan.

Prairie View A&M/4 Out of the funds appropriated in Rider 2 above, Prairie View A&M will jointly establish with Waller ISD an America’s Promise School. It will be a full service pre-kindergarten through fourth grade

community-centered elementary school based around the America’s promise concept.

Prairie View A&M/5 It is the intent of the legislature that the funding provided in the OCR

Priority Plan in Rider 2 above be continued as a multi-year commitment by the Legislature.

TEA/78 TEA may collaborate with the Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission to improve their accountability of funds spent on adult education by continuing to implement improvements to the Adult Community Education System and reevaluating their current contracting procedures with adult education providers to ensure maximum competition.

Texas Southern Texas Southern is appropriated $12,500,000 in Fiscal Year 2002 University/5 and $12,500,000 plus Unexpended Balances in Fiscal Year 2003 for the Texas commitment to the OCR Priority Plan. Texas Southern Texas Southern is required to work with the Coordinating Board, University/6 Governor and the Legislative Budget Board in order to establish a

detailed plan to accomplish the goal and create benchmarks and performance measures to be adopted in accordance with the OCR

24

OTHER AGENCY/INSTITUTION RIDERS CONTINUED Agency/Rider # Priority Plan by September 1, 2001. They shall be reported semi annually

by December 31 and June 30 to the institution’s Board of Regents, the Coordinating Board, the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board. Any funds not spent in the 2002-03 biennium will be transferred to the 2004-05 without any reduction in future funding for the OCR Priority Plan.

Texas Southern It is the intent of the legislature that the funding provided in the OCR University/7 Priority Plan in Rider 5 above be continued as a multi-year commitment

by the Legislature. ARTICLE IX RIDERS Section/Subsection# 10.18 This section refers to the allocation of additional appropriations contingent upon the

Comptroller certifying that sufficient revenue is available. A list is made and a specific order is prescribed for implementation.

(a) Any previous appropriation reductions made from General Revenue and the General Revenue related capital budget funding for all agencies will be restored on a pro rata basis first. Tuition revenue bond debt service would be restored next, followed by the appropriations previously made related to Special Items for higher education institutions and the restoration of any across the board appropriation reductions.

(b) Additional revenue is appropriated for The Texas Grant II Program. (c) Additional revenue is appropriated for junior college formula funding.

(f) Additional revenue is appropriated for meeting higher utility costs for institutions of higher education. (g) Additional revenue is appropriated for the funding of employee salary increases.

10.18 HB 1839 provides $33,774,000 for research and excellence funding at certain institutions of higher education. 10.19 HB 658 provides $76,423,392 for the debt service of tuition revenue bonds from General

Revenue Funds. 11.21 HB 2766 provides the Coordinating Board with $50,000 for each year of the biennium for repayment assistance for certain education loans owed by certain state attorneys. 11.22 SB 353 provides the Coordinating Board with $5,078,000 for each year of the

biennium from the Smart Jobs Fund to develop the technology workforce in Texas by supporting and promoting higher education in engineering and computer science.

11.23 HB 2323 provides the Coordinating Board with $100,000 in General Revenue

funds for each year of the biennium for repayment assistance for law school loans of persons providing legal services to the indigent.

25

ADMISSIONS HB 1387 (Dukes/Barrientos) – For the purpose of reporting top 10 percent graduates, this bill allows school districts to treat a high school magnet program, academy, or other special program conducted by the school district at a high school attended by students who are not part of the special program as an independent high school with its own graduating class separate from the graduating class of other students attending the high school. It applies only to special programs that were in operation in the 2000-2001 school year.

Effective Date June 15, 2001

HB 1641 (Rangel/Barrientos) – Allows a graduate or professional program of a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit to consider certain factors in making admissions or scholarship decisions beginning in the 2002-03 academic year. Some of the factors include the applicant’s academic record as a high school and undergraduate student; the socioeconomic background of the applicant while the applicant attended elementary, secondary and undergraduate school; whether the applicant would be the first generation of the applicant’s family to attend or graduate from an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program; and whether the applicant was automatically admitted to a general academic teaching institution as an undergraduate student under the top 10 percent law. It prohibits an applicant’s performance on a standardized test from being used as the sole or primary criterion for consideration of the applicant in the admissions or competitive scholarship process. If the test score is used, the score must be used in comparison to test scores of other applicants with similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Effective Date June 15, 2001 Admissions Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 47 (McClendon/Madla) – Would have required each general academic teaching institution to admit an applicant with a 3.0 GPA and a degree from a community college or technical institute in Texas, contingent upon the institution having space available for the admission of additional students. This bill passed the full House and was considered by the Senate Education Committee on May 7, 9, and 11 and was left pending. HB 112 (Rangel) – Would have made the Recommended High School Program the standard curriculum for graduating from a Texas public high school and would have made the program a requirement to enroll at a public four-year institution of higher education. For students who “opted out” into the minimum program, this bill would have required these students to attend a community or technical college for at least 30 semester credit hours before they could be eligible to transfer to a public four-year institution. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 27 and was left pending. (See HB 1144, a similar bill that passed) HB 286 (King, Phil) – Would have required institutions of higher education to evaluate applicants with nontraditional education backgrounds, including home-schooled students, by using the same standards as their traditionally educated counterparts. Would have required that students who have completed a nontraditional secondary education program be treated in accordance with the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee on April 10. The committee substitute removed the provision that would have prohibited an institution of higher education from requiring an applicant to submit evidence showing completion of a nontraditional secondary education, or to submit evidence that the applicant has obtained credentials equal to a high school degree, or to take an examination and comply with any other application or admission requirement not generally applicable to other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution. The bill was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 20.

26

HB 843 (Nixon) – Would have made automatic admission of high school graduates in the top 10 percent of their class an option, rather than a mandate, for institutions of higher education. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on February 5. HB 954 (Wilson) – Would have prohibited Texas institutions of higher education from considering an applicant's relationship to alumni or university donors when making admission decisions. This bill was considered by the House Committee on Higher Education on March 20 and was left pending. HB 1029 (Wilson) – Would have required the continued implementation of an on-campus provisional admission program at The University of Texas at Austin. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on February 27 and was left pending. HB 1565 (Crabb) – Would have required colleges and universities to automatically admit the top 5 percent of high school graduates rather than the top 10 percent. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on February 12. HB 1942 (Delisi) – Would have made a spouse or dependent child of a member of the armed forces of the United States who graduates from high school outside Texas eligible for automatic admission to institutions of higher education under the top 10 percent law and would have entitled those automatically admitted to pay resident tuition and fees. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 6 and was left pending. HB 1946 (Garcia) – Would have prohibited a general academic teaching institution, for the undergraduate or postgraduate admission of an applicant, from requiring an applicant to undertake a standardized test as a sole determinant in deciding whether to admit or reject the applicant. An institution would have been allowed to use an applicant's performance on a standardized test as one of multiple factors in such a decision, and would have been able to only accord the applicant's performance on a standardized test a weight of 20 percent or less in the overall decision-making process. A committee substitute was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 27. The committee substitute added a definition of "admission test" and extended the applicability of the bill to a medical and dental unit offering admissions to certain types of programs. The substitute would have also prohibited the specified institutions of higher education from considering an applicant's performance or score on an admission test without considering all other relevant factors available from the application and accompanying materials that related to the applicant's academic aptitude, skills, and achievements. The substitute would have required the governing board of each institution to monitor the institution's compliance with the provisions of the bill and to report on that compliance to the Coordinating Board before December 1 of each even-numbered year. This bill was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 9. (See HB 1641, a similar bill that passed) HB 1984 (Wilson) – Would have established the Uniform Student Admission Act to require general academic teaching institutions to treat each undergraduate applicant for admission to the institution fairly and according to the same standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution, including an applicant who had been promised or granted an athletic scholarship or any other financial assistance conditioned on the applicant's participation in an extracurricular activity organized or sponsored by the institution. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 20 and was left pending. HB 2386 (Wilson) – Would have required each institution of higher education that offers a graduate or professional degree program to admit an applicant to the degree program if the applicant graduated with a baccalaureate degree in the top 10 percent of the applicant's graduating class. Would have required an institution to hold a lottery to award spaces to eligible applicants if the number of entitled applicants exceeded the number of spaces available for a program. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on April 10 and was left pending.

27

HB 2483 (Wilson) – Would have prohibited an institution from admitting any person who is not a Texas resident unless the institution had previously offered admission to each of the applicants for admission who are Texas residents and who met certain other requirements. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on April 10 and was left pending. SB 974 (Wentworth) – Would have required high school students to take, at a minimum, the Recommended High School Program to be eligible for automatic admission to a general academic teaching institution under the top 10 percent law. This bill was passed by the full Senate and referred to the House Higher Education Committee on April 5.

COMMUNITY / TECHNICAL COLLEGES

HB 1754 (Gutierrez/Van de Putte) – Provides community college districts the option of allowing trustees elected from single-member districts to serve the remainder of their unexpired term rather than requiring the election of all trustees in the next election after redistricting. No trustee will be allowed to remain in office after the redistricting if that member no longer resides in the district as it is redrawn after redistricting. Also revises the requirement that the governing board of a countywide community college district that contains a city with a population of more than 384,500 residents redistrict the seven single-member districts within 90 days of the earliest date on which the board may recognize and act on publication of the federal census. Effective Date May 11, 2001 HB 2349 (Hilderbran/Fraser) – Provides that the service area of the Austin Community College District includes the territory within Travis County, except the territory within the Marble Falls Independent School District. Adds the Marble Falls Independent School District to the service area of the Central Texas College District. Provides that the change in this law applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester, except that during the 2001-2002 academic year a junior college district whose service area is changed by this bill may continue to treat an area removed by this bill from the district's service area as if the area were still in the district's service area as necessary to avoid an unreasonable interruption of community college services in the area. Effective Date June 16, 2001 HB 2459 (Ehrhardt/West, Royce) – Requires members of the board of trustees of a community college district to serve for staggered terms of six years with the terms of one-third of the members, rather than two or three, as nearly as may be, expiring in each even-numbered year. Requires the board of trustees, within 90 days following the effective date of an order or resolution of the board to increase the number of board members, to re-divide the district into the appropriate number of trustee districts as increased. Requires each trustee district, at the next district election following the re-division of the district, to elect a member of the board. Requires the members elected to draw lots for the appropriate number of two-year, four-year, and six-year terms as needed to establish staggered terms. Effective Date June 16, 2001 HB 3258 (Green/Armbrister) – Provides that the service area of the Austin Community College District includes the territory within the part of the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District in Gonzales County. Provides that the change in this law applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester, except that during the 2001-2002 academic year a community college

28

district whose service area is changed by this bill may continue to treat an area removed by this bill from the district's service area as if the area were still in the district's service area as necessary to avoid an unreasonable interruption of community college services in the area. Effective Date June 11, 2001 SB 1014 (Ogden/Kolkhorst) – Removes the Rockdale Independent School District from the Blinn College District service area and adds it to the Temple Junior College District service area. Provides that the change in this law applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester, except that during the 2001-2002 academic year a community college district whose service area is changed by this bill may continue to treat an area removed by this bill from the district's service area as if the area were still in the district's service area as necessary to avoid an unreasonable interruption of community college services in the area. Effective Date May 18, 2001

COORDINATING BOARD / AGENCY OPERATIONS HB 249 (Pitts/Shapiro) – Allows the information resources manager of a state agency to prepare a report on the extent to which the agency’s computer systems are vulnerable to unauthorized use or harm. The report will be confidential and not subject to public disclosure. On request, the manager will be required to provide the report to the Department of Information Resources, the State Auditor, and any other oversight group designated by the Legislature to receive the report. The agency will have to prepare a summary of the report that is available to the public and not compromise the security of the agency’s or its contractors’ computer systems.

Effective Date June 14, 2001 HB 1922 (McCall/Duncan) – Creates state government privacy policies and gives individuals the right to know about and be able to correct information collected by governmental bodies. Creates a privacy task force to study issues related to the information practices of state government that affect personal privacy.

Effective Date September 1, 2001

HB 2589 (Hochberg/Wentworth) – Requires the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to establish and administer a clearinghouse for information relating to all aspects of protecting the security of state agency information. Requires the DIR to adopt a policy that meets certain criteria and to post the policy on its Internet site. Requires state agencies to prominently post a link to the DIR’s policy statement on a generally accessible Internet site maintained by or for the agency. Requires the DIR to encourage each state agency to seek available grants and to work with public educational institutions and members of the business and industry community to develop and maintain Internet Web sites. Provides that an e-mail address of a member of the public that is provided for the purpose of communicating electronically with a governmental body is confidential and not subject to disclosure. Authorizes confidential information that relates to a member of the public to be disclosed if the member of the public approves its release.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 187 (Shapleigh/Solomons) – Creates a 15-member TexasOnline Authority to oversee the implementation of the TexasOnline common electronic infrastructure. Specifies that both a representative of a community college district and a representative of an institution of higher

29

education other than a community college district will be included on the Authority. An agency or institution may opt out of participation in the Online project, but must provide certain documentation if they choose to do so.

Effective Date May 26, 2001 SB 799 (Duncan/Craddick) – Requires each state agency to conduct an exit interview with an employee who leaves employment with the agency by having the employee access the questionnaire posted on the state auditor's Internet site and electronically submit it to the State Auditor. Requires the state agency to conduct the exit interview in a manner that allows the employee alone to describe the employee's reason for leaving employment and prohibits a state agency from altering the description stated by the employee. Requires the State Auditor to develop the exit interview questionnaire in consultation with the comptroller of public accounts and representatives designated by the Comptroller from small, medium, and large state agencies. Not later than the 15th day following the end of the calendar quarter, the State Auditor is required to submit a report to each state agency containing the questionnaire responses, but prohibits such a report from containing the name or any other identifying information of an employee. Also prohibits the state agency from sharing questionnaire responses with another state agency. The questionnaire responses are confidential and are not subject to disclosure under the public information law. Authorizes responses to be disclosed only to a law enforcement agency in a criminal investigation or on court order. Authorizes the State Auditor to audit each state agency's records to determine whether the agency is complying with these requirements. Requires the State Auditor, not later than December 15th of each year before a regular session of the Legislature, to submit a report summarizing the findings of the exit interviews to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and members of the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Appropriations.


DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION (TEXAS ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAM-TASP) HB 234 (Hawley/Fraser) – Exempts from the requirements of the TASP a student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States. Effective Date May 24, 2001 HB 1645 (Delisi/Nelson) – Exempts a transfer student from a private or independent institution of higher education, or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education, from the TASP if the student has earned a grade of “B” or better in a transferred freshman-level credit course included in the list of approved courses set by the Coordinating Board. This exemption applies to a transfer student who enrolls at a public institution of higher education beginning in the fall of 2001. Effective Date June 14, 2001 HB 2109 (Farrar/Ellis) – Exempts students, including out-of-state students, who have completed the Recommended High School Program, or its equivalent, and graduated from a public or private accredited high school with a 3.5 GPA. The exemption is applicable only if the student enrolls in an institution of higher education within two years of the date the student graduates from high school. Effective Date June 15, 2001

30

Developmental Education (TASP) Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 125 (West, George “Buddy”) – Would have repealed the requirements for a Texas college student to take the TASP test and for a college student who is deaf to take the SAT. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education on March 20 and passed the full House. The committee substitute replaced the TASP test with a test that utilized specified portions of the TAAS test, which is administered by the Texas Education Agency to students in the 11th grade, rather than eliminating TASP and eliminating the SAT for deaf students. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on May 11.

HB 1648 (Delisi) – Would have abolished the TASP. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on February 15. HB 1724 (Seaman) – Would have created a pilot program through which the TASP would be administered to 11th and 12th grade students. This bill was referred to the House Public Education Committee on February 19. HB 2775 (Deshotel) – Would have exempted student from the TASP who graduated from a Texas public high school at least 10 years prior to enrolling in a college and university. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee and was passed by the full House. The committee substitute would have expanded the exemption to students who graduated from an accredited private high school in this state or a public or private high school outside this state at least 10 years prior to enrolling in a Texas public institution of higher education. It also would have authorized a student to voluntarily take the TASP test and would have required those students to successfully complete developmental courses unless the student passed all sections of the TASP. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on May 11. HB 3138 (Hilbert) – Would have authorized the Commissioner of Education to assign a school district that consistently graduates students requiring postsecondary remedial education all or a part of remedial education costs provided by an institution of higher education. This bill was considered by the House Public Education Committee on April 10 and was left pending. HB 3620 (Delisi) – Would have restructured TASP as the Developmental Education Program (DEP) and provided for additional exemptions from the DEP test. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on April 3, but was withdrawn from the schedule. SB 1141 (West, Royce) – Would have eliminated the TASP and required colleges and universities to use their own diagnostic tests to assess entering students for reading, writing and math skills. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on March 7.

EDUCATOR PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT & RETENTION HB 704 (Delisi/Shapiro) – Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to establish the Careers to Classroom Program to help people become certified as elementary or secondary school teachers or as educational aides. The program will help employ these teachers in school districts with a high concentration of educationally disadvantaged children, with a shortage of educational aides and a shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in the subject areas of science, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. To be eligible for the program, a person would need to have received at least an associate’s degree if he/she is planning to be an educational aide and have at least a baccalaureate degree if he/she is planning to be a teacher. A person selected for the program would have to enter into a written agreement with TEA to obtain certification in a timely manner and to accept during the first year of certification an offer of full-time employment for at least two years with a public elementary or secondary school. TEA will pay each program participant a stipend equal to the lesser of $5,000 or an

amount equal to the total costs of obtaining certification. If a person fails to obtain certification or did not fulfill their teaching agreement, the person will be required to reimburse TEA for the portion of the stipend that would equal the unused amount.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1130 (Rangel/Barrientos) – Makes changes to the eligibility criteria for participating in the Educational Aide Exemption Program, which is estimated to double the number of eligible participants. Any school employee who has worked at least one of the past five years as an educational aide may apply for an award while taking classes leading toward teacher certification. An applicant is no longer required to be certified as an educational aide by the State Board for Educator Certification and is no longer required to be currently employed as a certified aide by a school district. He or she must be employed by the school district, but that current employment can be in any capacity. Requires the board of trustees of a school district to establish a plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides who show a willingness to become certified teachers. Requires the governing board of an institution of higher education that offers courses required for teacher certification to establish a plan to make those courses more accessible to students. Students who qualify for the program will not be required to participate in any field experience or internship consisting of student teaching to receive a teaching certificate.

Effective Date May 14, 2001 HB 1721 by (Martinez-Fischer/Van de Putte) – Authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a certificate to an educator from another state or country that has performed satisfactorily on an exam similar to and at least as rigorous as the ExCET.

Effective Date June 16, 2001 SB 998 (Madla/Hardcastle) – Authorizes persons who have worked in an alternative education program or a juvenile justice education program for three years to take the ExCET without completing an alternative educator certification program. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 1057 (Ellis/Rangel) – (As it relates to educator preparation) – Makes administrative changes to the Teach for Texas Conditional Grant Program and removes the requirement that eligible applicants must be recipients of the TEXAS Grant Program. It also permits students enrolled in post-baccalaureate, 5th-year certification programs to maintain their eligibility for the grant for an additional year. It allows the Coordinating Board to award grants based on criteria other than financial need in years where funding remains after all needy students are awarded grants. Establishes the Teach for Texas Alternative Certification Program to be administered by the Coordinating Board. The purpose of that program is to provide grants to persons seeking their educator certification through alternative educator certification programs. In addition, it amends the eligibility requirements for the existing classroom teacher loan repayment program by requiring recipients to be classroom teachers who have completed at least one year of employment and be currently employed at a preschool, primary, or secondary-level public school in an area or field of acute teacher shortage as designated by the Commissioner of Education. Recipients are ineligible if they have received a Teach for Texas Conditional Grant or other financial assistance. The minimum amount of repayment assistance that may be awarded in one year to an eligible teacher is $1,000 or the amount of principal and accrued interest due that year, whichever is less.

31

32

(Note: In HB 2879 the Legislature appropriated an additional $11 million for the Teach for Texas Grant Programs. In Article IX of the General Appropriations Act, Rider 11.29, page IX-119, $5 million is appropriated to the Coordinating Board for the Classroom Teacher Loan Repayment Program; however, this appropriation will not be available until the Comptroller certifies that additional general revenue is available.)


FACULTY HB 1127 (Rangel/Bivins) – Requires an institution of higher education that reappoints a faculty member for the next academic year to offer the member a written contract for that year not later than 30 days before the first day of the academic year. If the institution does not comply, the institution is required to provide the member with written notification that the institution is unable to comply, and must include the reasons for its inability to comply and specify a time by which the institution will offer a written contract to the member. If the institution does not offer the faculty member a written contract before the 61st day after the first day of the academic year and the institution retains the member for that year without a written contract, the institution must retain the member for the year under terms and conditions, including the member’s compensation, that are at least as favorable to the member’s employment for the preceding academic year, unless a different written contract is entered. This bill does not provide a non-tenured faculty member additional rights, privileges, or remedies or an expectation of continued employment beyond the member’s current contract.

Effective Date January 1, 2002

HB 2397 (Chavez/Zaffirini) – Requires the Coordinating Board to conduct a study regarding the disparity between the salary and benefits received by part-time faculty members and the salary benefits received by full-time faculty members at institutions of higher education. The Coordinating Board must submit its findings and recommendations to the governor and to the presiding officer of each house of the Legislature not later than September 1, 2002.


Faculty Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 1014 (McReynolds) – Would have required universities to determine whether their faculty salaries are less than the average of the 10 most populous states. This bill passed the full House and was referred to the Senate Education Committee on May 11. HB 2269 (Bailey) – Would have provided that a faculty member employed by an institution of higher education has the right to be represented in a meeting that relates to the faculty member's job performance and that may result in an adverse personnel action or a recommendation relating to an adverse personnel action, including termination, non-renewal, suspension, demotion, or a reprimand. Would have required a supervisor to notify in writing a faculty member who is directed to attend such a meeting not later than the fourth day before the meeting. SB 924 (Barrientos/Rangel) – Would have required the Coordinating Board to develop a uniform strategy to enable colleges and universities to recruit faculty reflecting the population of the state. This bill passed the full Senate and the House Higher Education Committee and was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 30. SB 995 (Barrientos) – Would have required the Coordinating Board to establish the Texas Graduate Studies Tuition and Fee Exemption Program to provide incentives for minority community college faculty

33

to pursue masters and doctoral degrees. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on March 1.

FINANCIAL AID HB 1187 (Olivo/Zaffirini) – Establishes the Parents as Scholars Pilot Program to be administered by the Texas Workforce Commission to allow recipients of financial assistance participating in the program to fulfill applicable work or employment activity requirements by engaging in educational activities designed to result in receipt of a postsecondary degree. An eligible participant must be certified to receive financial assistance for not more than 12 months; be the parent of at least one dependent child younger than 18 years of age; has a high school diploma, a high school equivalency certificate, or an associate degree; and must not be exempt from work or employment activities.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1575 (Junell/Duncan) – Authorizes the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of student loans for certain dental hygienists who have graduated from a dental hygiene degree or certificate program at an institution of higher education and have practiced dental hygiene under a license for at least one year in an area of the state that is underserved with respect to dental hygiene services. Requires the governing board of each institution of higher education that offers a degree or certificate in dental hygiene to set aside 2 percent of tuition charges for resident students enrolled in the degree program. The amount set aside must be transferred to the comptroller to be maintained in the state treasury for the purpose of the repayment program. (Note: The Legislature did not appropriate any funds; therefore, this program will not be implemented this biennium.)

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 2323 (Gallego/Shapleigh) – Requires the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of law school education loans to certain attorneys who are currently practicing in this state as a full-time employee of an organization that qualifies for an exemption from federal income taxes, is prohibited from providing representation in a class-action lawsuit, and receives funds for providing legal services to indigent individuals from the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program administered by the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation or the basic civil legal services account. (Note: The Legislature appropriated $200,000 for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Rider 11.23, page IX-120; however, this appropriation will not be available until the Comptroller certifies that additional general revenue is available.) Also, the bill establishes a program, to be administered by the Coordinating Board, to provide assistance in the repayment of law school education loans for attorneys who are currently employed by a district or county attorney’s office that serves a rural county and who enter into an agreement to remain employed by a district or county attorney’s office for at least five years. (Note: The Legislature did not appropriate any funds; therefore, this program will not be implemented this biennium.)

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 2766 (Delisi/Ellis) – Authorizes the Coordinating Board to provide assistance in the repayment of education loans for attorneys who are employed by or have been offered employment with the Office of the Attorney General at the time the attorney applies for

34

assistance and who enters into an agreement to serve as an attorney with the Office of the Attorney General for at least three years. Requires the governing board of each public law school to set aside 1 percent of tuition charges for resident students enrolled in the law school. The amount set aside must be transferred to the Comptroller to be maintained in the state treasury for the purpose of the repayment program. (Note: The Legislature appropriated $100,000 for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Rider 11.21, page IX-119; however, this appropriation will not be available until the Comptroller certifies that additional general revenue is available.) Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 40 (Zaffirini/Naishtat) – Requires the Coordinating Board to establish and administer a tuition assistance program for vocational nursing students who agree to practice in long-term care facilities. Requires the Coordinating Board to adopt rules for determining eligibility requirements, the maximum amount of tuition assistance available, the amount of time a student agrees to participate in a long-term care facility, circumstances under which the Board may cancel a student’s long-term facility work obligation, and other conditions. (Note: The Legislature did not appropriate any funds; therefore, this program will not be implemented this biennium.)

Effective Date June 17, 2001 SB 149 (Carona/Hunter) – Updates statutory references to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, rather than the Texas College and University System. Requires the Coordinating Board to approve only those private or independent colleges or universities that are defined by Section 61.003 of the Education Code (rather than associations, agencies, institutions, and facilities) or are located within this state and meet the same program standards and accreditation as (rather than comparable to) public institutions of higher education as determined by the Coordinating Board. Deletes the requirement that the Coordinating Board receive a student application and enrollment report from an approved institution before certifying the amount of a TEG grant. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 1596 (Bivins/Rangel) – Creates the Towards EXcellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant II to be administered by the Coordinating Board. This program will provide grants to students entering a public community, technical, or state college. To be eligible, a student must be a Texas resident, enroll at least half-time, show financial need, and be working towards an associate’s degree or a certificate. The grant amount for each term will not exceed the statewide average of tuition and fees at public community or technical colleges. To remain eligible, a student must complete at least 75 percent of his/her coursework and maintain a 2.5 average. A student will not be able to receive a TEXAS Grant II for more than 75 hours or 3 years; nor can a student be eligible for both a TEXAS Grant II and a TEXAS Grant. (Note: The Legislature appropriated $10 million for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in the General Appropriations Act, Article III, Rider 55, page III-67. An additional $10 million will become available if the Comptroller certifies that there is additional general revenue available.)


Financial Aid Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 140 (Wise) – Would have required institutions of higher education to reimburse veterans who received tuition exemptions for the cost of textbooks and similar required course materials. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee on May 1 and sent to the House Local and Consent Calendar on May 7. The committee substitute would have limited the

35

reimbursement to a veteran or a veteran's dependant enrolled in at least 12 semester credit hours at the institution during the semester or term for which the textbooks and course materials were purchased. HB 324 (Ellis, Dan) – Would have exempted college textbooks from the state sales tax purchased by part-time or full-time students at a public or private university. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on January 29.

HB 733 (Jones, Jesse) Same as SB 706 (West, Royce) – Would have created the Texas Rising Star Scholarship Program for deserving junior college and technical institute students with financial need. HB 733 was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on February 5 and SB 706 was referred to the Senate Education Committee on February 15. HB 1576 (Telford) – Would have allowed financial aid officers to package a TEXAS Grant with TEG funds up to the maximum TEG amount, not to exceed the tuition and fees charged to a student, to increase the total amount of aid a college's neediest students may receive to pay college expenses. This bill passed the full House and was referred to the Senate Education Committee on April 3. HB 1672 (Green) – Would have provided that a person who graduated from any private high school, regardless of accreditation status, is initially eligible for a TEXAS grant. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on March 20, but no action was taken. HB 2292 (Lewis, Glenn) – Would have required the Coordinating Board to establish a tuition assistance program for psychology, counseling and social work students who agreed to provide professional services, upon licensure, to state prison inmates. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on March 5. HB 2547 (Dutton) – Would have provided tuition and fee refunds for Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University students who completed the first semester with at least a 2.0 GPA and would have provided tuition and fee exemptions for students who completed the next year and a half with at least a 2.0 GPA. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on April 10 and was left pending. SB 210 (Bivins/Hochberg) – Would have required recipients of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program to complete the Recommended or Advanced High School Program. This bill passed the full Senate and the House Public Education Committee and was sent to the House Calendars Committee on May 11. SB 1274 (Barrientos) – Would have created the Texas First Generation Scholars Program to award grants to colleges and universities to develop mentoring programs for undergraduate low-income, first-generation students or minority students who desire to enter the faculty ranks. The grants would have been awarded through the Coordinating Board. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on March 12.

HEALTH-RELATED HB 42 (McClendon/Ogden) – Allows the Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System, to conduct a feasibility study of an affiliation or coordinating agreement between the board of regents and any institution of higher education to provide the clinical education necessary to support a doctor of medicine degree program at Prairie View A&M University. The study must be completed on or before December 31, 2002.

Effective Date June 11, 2001 HB 1124 (Turner, Bob/Moncrief) – Requires the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to establish a community healthcare awareness and mentoring program to identify, encourage, and support potential health care professionals from rural and underserved urban areas. Subject to available funds, the executive committee is required to develop and

36

implement, as a component of the program, a grant program to support employment opportunities in rural and underserved urban areas in this state for students participating in training or educational programs to become health care professionals. In awarding grants, the executive committee shall give first priority to training or educational programs that provide internships to students. To be eligible to receive a grant, a person must apply for the grant; be enrolled or intend to be enrolled in a training or educational program to become a health care professional; commit to practice or work for at least one year as a licensed health care professional in a rural or underserved urban area in this state; and comply fully with any requirements associated with any scholarship, loan, or other similar benefit received by the student. As a condition of receiving a grant the student must agree to repay the amount of the grant, plus a penalty in an amount established by rule of the executive committee not to exceed two times the amount of the grant, if the student fails to fulfill the conditions of the grant. Effective Date September 2, 2001 HB 2421 (Hawley/Madla) – Establishes the Rural Physician Recruitment Program to be administered by the Center for Rural Health Initiatives. The Center, in consultation with the Coordinating Board, will select a Texas medical school to recruit students from rural communities and encourage them to return to rural communities to practice medicine.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 2510 (Chavez/Duncan) – Requires the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System to establish the Texas Tech Diabetes Research Center at the regional academic health center of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center located in El Paso for purposes of researching issues related to diabetes and conditions associated with diabetes.

Effective Date June 14, 2001 HB 2584 (Chavez/Zaffirini) – Establishes the Commission on Geriatrics Study Requirement for Medical School as an advisory body to the Coordinating Board for the purpose of conducting studies and making findings and recommendations on the feasibility of making the study of geriatrics a requisite for graduation from a Texas medical school. The Commission will issue a report to the Coordinating Board not later than October 1, 2002, and the Commission is abolished January 1, 2003.


SB 31 (Zaffirini/Raymond) – Requires the Coordinating Board to establish procedures by which institutions of higher education will provide information regarding bacterial meningitis to new students of the institution. Effective Date May 22, 2001 SB 126 (Madla/Turner, Bob) – Establishes the Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program at the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to provide loan repayment assistance and financial stipends for health care professionals who relocate or initiate their practices in medically underserved communities in Texas. An advisory panel to be appointed to assist the Center in this effort will include a representative from an institution of higher education having degree programs for the health professions and a representative of the Coordinating Board. (Note: This program was appropriated $2.5 million in tobacco settlement proceeds in SB 1, Sec. 10.62, Article III-99). Effective Date May 28, 2001

37

SB 505 (Brown, J.E. “Buster”/Gray) – Authorizes the governing board of a medical and dental unit to require a student enrolled at the institution to obtain health insurance coverage. Requires the governing board to determine the minimum coverage standards for health insurance and requires the medical and dental unit to provide a reasonable estimate of the cost of the health insurance coverage within the student's cost of education for financial aid purposes. Authorizes a student to be provisionally enrolled at the institution for one academic session without coverage in order to allow the student time to obtain the coverage. Effective Date June 13, 2001 SB 572 (Moncrief/Gray) – Establishes the Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program to be administered by the Coordinating Board. The program has several purposes: (1) It will provide grants to professional nursing programs and other entities (including two-year, independent, or private institutions of higher education) involved with a professional nursing program in the preparation of students for initial licensure as registered nurses to increase the number and types of registered nurses. In awarding the grants until September 1, 2003, the Coordinating Board must give priority to institutions with innovative recruitment and retention programs for nursing students and faculty and institutions that provide financial incentives to faculty to provide clinical and classroom instruction in addition to carrying a full teaching load. (2) It allows an institution of higher education to charge resident tuition to a registered nurse who is authorized to practice in Texas without regard to the length of time the nurse has resided in Texas, if the nurse is enrolled in a master’s program in nursing and intends to teach in a Texas program designed to prepare students for licensure as registered nurses. (3) It establishes a nursing workforce data center at the Board of Nurse Examiners to address issues of supply and demand for nursing. (4) It modifies for the 2002/03 biennium the Nursing, Allied Health and Other Health-Related Grant Program, funded through tobacco settlement proceeds, directing the Coordinating Board to give priority to providing grants to institutions proposing to address the nursing shortage of registered nurses by promoting innovation in recruitment and retention of nursing students and faculty and to institutions seeking to increase enrollments in their nursing programs through financial incentives to faculty to provide clinical and classroom instruction in addition to carrying a full teaching loan. (Note: No new funding was appropriated by the Legislature to fund the initiatives in this bill.) Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 837 (Shapleigh/Chavez) – Requires the governing board of the Border Health Institute, in consultation with the Institute’s members, to develop a 10-year strategic plan to guide and evaluate the institute's progress toward achieving the purposes of the Institute. The strategic plan must include: (1) goals, objectives, and performance standards for each of the institute's programs and a description of how those programs help the institute to achieve its purposes; (2) an assessment of the needs of the institute's programs and faculty; and (3) an assessment of the institute's need for new initiatives. The governing board of the institute must update at least biennially the strategic plan required by this section. Not later than December 15 of each even-numbered year, the governing board of the institute will submit to the Legislature and the Coordinating Board a report concerning the strategic plan required by this section, including any recommendations for legislative action. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 940 (Bivins/Rangel) – Establishes the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) to provide services to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged students pursuing a medical education, to award undergraduate and graduate scholarships and summer stipends to those students, and to guarantee the admission of those students to at least one participating medical school. The program will be administered the JAMP Council, which will be

38

composed of one faculty member employed by and representing each of the participating medical schools (e.g. UTHSC-Houston, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, UTHSC-San Antonio, UT Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas Tech University HSC, the Baylor College of Medicine, the University of North Texas HSC-Fort Worth, and Texas A&M University HSC). (Note: The Legislature appropriated $4 million for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in HB 2879 to fund JAMP.) Effective Date June 11, 2001

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATIONS HB 1545 (Uher/Bivins) – Addresses numerous issues related to the operation, regulation, administration and financing of public institutions of higher education; allows best value purchasing by the universities and certain payroll deductions.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 826 (Truan/Grusendorf) – Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to operate a school or program or hold a class on the campus of an institution of higher education in this state if the board obtains written consent from the president or other chief executive officer of the institution regardless of whether the institution is located within the boundaries of the district. Effective Date June 13, 2001 SB 1419 (West, Royce/Thompson) – Eliminates the statute of limitations in certain civil proceedings involving the public institutions of higher education or Coordinating Board. Effective Date May 22, 2001

MISCELLANEOUS HB 82 (Gallego/Duncan) – Provides that in each calendar year, the first $5,000 of a student organization's total receipts from sales of taxable items is exempt from taxes. Provides that a student organization qualifies for the exemptions if it sells the item at a sale that lasts for one day only, if the primary purpose of the sale is to raise funds for the organization, and if the organization holds not more than one sale each month for which an exemption is claimed for an item sold. Effective Date October 1, 2001 HB 2787 (Geren/Brown, J.E. “Buster”) – Prohibits an institution of higher education from issuing a permit to a student enrolled at the institution to park or drive a motor vehicle that is not registered in this state on institutional property unless the institution has provided written notice to the student concerning requirements for vehicle emissions inspections. This bill only applies to a public institution of higher education campus that is located in whole or part in an area in which a motor vehicle registered in the area is required to undergo a vehicle emissions inspection under Chapter 548F, Transportation Code. Requires each institution of higher education that maintains a campus police force to adopt procedures for enforcing State of Texas vehicle inspection laws for vehicles parking or driving on the campus of the institution. Effective Date SEE REMARKS

39

HB 3590 (Hunter/Van de Putte) – Establishes the Texas Fund for Geography Education under the Coordinating Board to support, improve and promote geography education in Texas. Authorizes the Coordinating Board to enter into an agreement, under certain conditions, with the National Geographic Society of Washington, D.C. to operate the fund. If the Coordinating Board does enter into the agreement, it requires the Coordinating Board to appoint an advisory committee of seven persons who have expertise and an interest in geography education to assist the National Geographic Society in awarding grants from the fund. Requires the Coordinating Board to report to the Governor and the Legislature the value of the fund and the membership of the advisory committee as of September 1 of that year and a summary of each project supported by a grant from the fund during the previous biennium. (Note: The Legislature appropriated $500,000 for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in the General Appropriations Act, Article III, Rider 54, page III-67, to use to match with National Geographic Society funding to establish the fund.) Effective Date June 14, 2001 HB 3699 (Ritter/Bersen) – Authorizes each governing board participating in the distribution of funds under the equitable allocation formula to expend the funds without limitation for any and all purposes with the exception of those funds that are to be used to fund projects in excess of $600,000 for new construction, major repair and rehabilitation projects, and land acquisition, which will be required to receive approval from the Legislature or approval, review, or endorsement from the Coordinating Board. Authorizes the board for the Lamar Institute of Technology to expend funds allocated to Lamar University for any purposes in the same manner and under the same circumstances as expenditures for those purposes for other separate degree-granting institutions. Effective Date June 15, 2001 SB 263 (Ogden/Brown, Fred) – Requires each governing board of an institution of higher education to adopt a policy regulating travel that is undertaken by one or more students presently enrolled at the institution to reach an activity or event organized and sponsored by the institution that is located more than 25 miles from the institution and that is: (1) funded by the institution, and the travel is undertaken using a vehicle owned or leased by the institution; or (2) required by a student organization registered at the institution. The governing board shall seek advice and comment from the faculty and students of the institution before adopting this policy. Requires the policy to contain provisions that address different modes of travel likely to be used by students and certain safety issues related to student travel. Requires the governing board to make the policy available to the public by publishing the policy in the institution's catalog and by any other method the board considers appropriate. Requires the governing board to file a copy of the policy, and any amendments to that policy, with the Coordinating Board. Provides that no claim or cause of action against an institution is created by this bill. Effective Date June 13, 2001 SB 555 (Ellis/Junell) – Creates a college savings plan to provide purchasers with greater flexibility and potentially higher returns than are available through the Texas Tomorrow Fund. Effective Date June 15, 2001 SB 903 (Van de Putte/Morrision) – Establishes the women’s athletic development fund to be administered by the Coordinating Board to help reduce the disparity and promote equity between women and men's athletics. The Coordinating Board will allocate funds to institutions of higher education to support women's athletic development programs that are operated by the institution on a collaborative basis with one or more public high schools in this state. In selecting

40

these programs, the Coordinating Board must give priority to programs addressing the needs of public high school students whose economic conditions limit their access to athletic facilities, programs, and opportunities. The board will also consider other relevant factors, including whether a program promotes gender equality and includes the participation of collegiate-level coaches and athletes. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 1818 (Bivins/Telford) – Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to enter into an agreement with any person for the purchase, sale, lease, lease-purchase, acquisition, or construction of permanent improvements and to purchase, sell, lease, lease-purchase, encumber, or contract with reference to the divesting or encumbering title to lands and other appurtenances for the construction of the permanent improvements. Requires that no debt be incurred by the State of Texas. Effective Date September 1, 2001

P-16 INITIATIVES HB 400 (Giddings/Van de Putte) – Directs the Coordinating Board and the TEA to identify school districts that during the preceding five years have had an average of at least 26 students in the high school’s graduating class and for any two consecutive years within the preceding five years have been among the lowest 10 percent of high schools in Texas in the percentage of students enrolling in an institution of higher education. Requires these school districts to enter into an agreement with the public institution of higher education in closest proximity to the district not later than December 31, 2001. The district and the institution will be required to implement a plan to increase the percentage of students attending an institution of higher education beginning with the 2002-03 school year. Also requires the Coordinating Board to administer the Higher Education Assistance Pilot Program. The purpose of the program is to provide information related to enrollment in higher education, admissions and financial aid to students in three areas of the state with the highest percentage of students who do not enroll at institutions of higher education. The Coordinating Board will be required to submit to the Legislature a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program not later than August 31, 2003. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1144 (Grusendorf/Harris) – Makes the Recommended High School Program the standard curriculum for graduation at public high schools. Allows for a student to “opt out” into the minimum program with the consent of the student’s parent or guardian and a school counselor or administrator. This requirement will apply to students entering the ninth grade in the 2004-05 academic year and thereafter. Directs the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Education to ensure that student performance records are coordinated and maintained in standardized, compatible formats that permit the exchange of information between the two agencies and the matching of individual student records so that a student’s academic performance may be assessed throughout the student’s educational career. Requires the State Board for Educator Certification to establish a Master Math Certificate and directs the Commissioner of Education to establish the Master Math Grant Program to provide stipends to certified master math teachers who teach at high-need campuses. Directs the

41

Commissioner of Education to develop a professional development institute in math for grades five through eight and allows stipends, in an amount to be determined by the Commissioner, to be paid to teachers who complete a professional development institute. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 82 (Madla/Menendez) – Authorizes a public community college, under an agreement with a school district or with an organization or person that operates a private high school, to offer a course in which a student attending a high school operated in this state may enroll and receive certain course credit. Requires a public community college, in admitting or enrolling high school students in a course offered for dual credit, to apply the same criteria and conditions to each student wishing to enroll in the course without regard to whether the student attends a public school, private or parochial school, including a home school. Provides that a student who is at least 16 and who attends a school that is not formally organized as a high school is considered to be attending a high school. Effective Date August 27,2001 SB 158 (Truan/Olivo) – Requires public elementary, middle, and high school counselors, including those at open-enrollment charter schools, to advise students and their parents regarding the importance of higher education, college-preparatory coursework, financial aid, the TEXAS Grant Program, and the top 10 percent law. Effective Date June 15, 2001 SB 573 (Bivins/Rangel) – Directs the Coordinating Board to establish a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the value of higher education. The campaign will include information on the benefits of obtaining a postsecondary education, the types of institutions of higher education and degree programs that are available, the academic preparation needed to pursue a postsecondary education and other requirements for enrollment at an institution of higher education, and information on how to obtain financial aid. The target audience will be primary and secondary school students from groups or backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. (Note: The Legislature appropriated $5 million for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in HB 2879 to administer the program.) Effective Date September 1, 2001

PLANNING HB 1799 (Villarreal/Shapleigh) – Requires the Coordinating Board to develop a long-range statewide plan to provide information and guidance to policy makers to ensure that institutions of higher education meet the current and future needs of each region of this state for higher education services. In developing the plan, the Coordinating Board will examine existing higher education programs and identify the geographic areas of this state that, as a result of current or projected population growth, distance from other educational resources, economic trends, or other factors, will have significantly greater need for higher education services than the services currently provided in the area. The Coordinating Board will also consider the services provided by private and independent institutions of higher education in developing the plan. The Coordinating Board will identify the programs or fields of study for which an area has or is projected to have a significant unmet need for services. In determining the need for higher educational services in an area, the Board will consider the educational attainment of the current population and the extent to which residents from the area attend institutions of higher education outside of the area or do not attend institutions of higher education. The Coordinating

42

Board will include in the plan specific recommendations for administrative or legislative action to address an area's unmet need for higher educational services as efficiently as possible. Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the Coordinating Board will deliver to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Legislature a report of the current long-range plan. Effective Date May 25, 2001 Planning Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 1804 (Salinas) – Would have authorized the Educational Productivity Council at The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education to develop a database of information on the performance of students attending public schools and public institutions of higher education. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee and sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 6. The committee substitute would have authorized the council to have access to data, rather than to develop a database. The substitute would have authorized the council to enter into an agreement with a local or state educational agency to make the information available and would have authorized the council to have access to student information that is confidential under federal law, at the request of the institution, school district, or open-enrollment charter school in which the student is enrolled. HB 3053 (Rangel) – Would have required the Coordinating Board to develop specific policies and strategies to assist public and private entities and public officials to achieve a coordinated educational system that meets the needs of all people in Texas, including employers. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on April 10, but was withdrawn from the schedule. SB 349 (Truan) – Would have created the Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities through 2013. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee on February 14, but no action was taken. SB 1186 (Shapleigh/Rangel) – Would have required the Coordinating Board to create and post a report on the board's Internet website which would have listed all public universities in the state and each university's corresponding performance on each of 20 measures. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the Senate Education Committee and passed the full Senate. It also passed the House Higher Education Committee as substituted. The last version of the bill required Coordinating Board to post institution’s performance on 17 measures. It was placed on the House Local and Consent calendar on May 23, but was withdrawn from the calendar and sent back to the committee. SB 1260 (Shapleigh/Rangel) – Would have allowed the Comptroller to conduct performance reviews on colleges and universities (the Comptroller, Coordinating Board or institution could have requested a review). This bill was favorably reported by the Senate Education Committee and passed the full Senate. It also passed the House Higher Education Committee. It was placed on the House Local and Consent calendar on May 23, but was withdrawn from the calendar and sent back to the committee. (See SB 1, Comptroller of Public Accounts Rider 19, a similar rider that passed)

PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS HB 1985 (Solis, Jim/Truan) – Requires the Texas Workforce Commission to re-examine the premises of a proprietary school as frequently as it deems necessary and renew, revoke, or deny renewal of the school's certificate of approval. Sets forth the minimum refund of tuition and fees for a student who terminates or withdraws from a residence course of not more than 12 months in length. Prohibits a person from soliciting prospective students for or on behalf of a proprietary school without being registered as a representative of the proprietary school as required by this law. Increases the fee for an investigation at a proprietary school to resolve a complaint filed against the school from $400 to $600. Increases the maximum amount of the

43

refunds required to be paid from the proprietary school tuition protection fund from $25,000 to $50,000. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 554 (Carona/Solis, Jim) – Authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to establish the Texas Career Opportunity Grant Program to provide tuition assistance to Texas students enrolled in a qualified education program at eligible proprietary schools, public technical institutes and certain postsecondary education programs. The TWC will award grants on the basis of financial need, economic demand for the applicant’s proposed career field, efficient use of the money available for grants, allocation of grants across different career fields and geographical regions, and any other factor TWC considers appropriate. To be a qualified education program, a proprietary must be accredited for at least five years, have held a certificate of approval for at least five years, and offer one or more programs of at least one academic year in length leading to a certificate, certification, degree, or diploma in the career field. To be eligible to receive a grant, an applicant must be at Texas resident, be enrolled in at least part-time at an eligible institution, be required to pay more tuition and fees than required at a public technical institute, establish financial need, and not be in default of a loan.

Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 1205 (Jackson/Hamric) – Provides that a course of instruction is exempt from provisions relating to proprietary schools if the length of the course is 24 classroom hours or less; the fee for the course is less than $500; the course is designed to teach knowledge or skills to maintain or enhance a person's competency or performance in a business, trade, or occupation, or to teach recreational or vocational subjects; no credits or units are awarded on completion of the course toward the completion of another course of instruction of more than 24 classroom hours; and meets other conditions. Provides that a business enterprise that offers exclusively courses of instruction that are exempt from regulation under provisions relating to proprietary schools is also exempt from such regulation. Effective Date September 1, 2001

RESEARCH HB 1716 (Puente/Van de Putte) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish and maintain the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute as a joint partnership of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio. Requires the Institute to specialize in research and teaching in the life sciences and develop joint degree and research programs for the health science center and the university. The operation and management of the Institute will be under the direction of the chancellor of The University of Texas System and the board of regents through the presidents of the health science center and the university. Administrative costs may be paid from money appropriated by the Legislature and from public or private sources. The Institute will retain all indirect costs received or recovered under a grant or contract. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1839 (Junell/Ellis) – Creates the Texas Excellence Fund and the University Research Fund to provide funding to promote increased research capacity and to develop institutional excellence at eligible institutions. Distribution formulas for each of the funds is included in the legislation, but the formulas will sunset on August 31, 2005. Mandates a joint

44

interim review of excellence funding by a committee of five senators from the Senate and five members from the House of Representatives. Effective Date September 1, 2001 SB 1840 (Van de Putte/Puente) – Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System, with the assistance of the Coordinating Board, to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of operating The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as a single research center. Requires the board of regents to obtain input from students, faculty, and administrators as well as to identify and evaluate potential benefits and legal, administrative, or practical problems concerning the proposed change. The board of regents is required to submit the results to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2002. Effective Date June 13, 2001 Research Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 2356 (Tillery) – Would have required universities each fiscal year to transfer to the General Revenue Fund 25 percent of royalties received from intellectual property. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 20, but was left pending. HB 2365 (Williams/West, Royce) and SB 1013 (West, Royce) companion bill – Would have required the Legislature each biennium to appropriate to Prairie View A&M University funds sufficient enough to qualify for federal agricultural research, extension and education matching funds. HB 2365 was passed by the full House, but tagged in the Senate Finance Committee on May 11. SB 1013 was considered by the Senate Finance Committee on March 29, but was left pending. SB 449 (Duncan) – Would have created the University Research Fund to provide excellence funding to eligible research institutions. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 31. (See HB 1839, a similar bill that passed) SB 1567 (Harris) – Would have created the Emerging University Excellence Fund to provide funding to promote increased research capacity and to develop institutional excellence at PUF-eligible institutions, excluding the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University. This bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee on March 14. (See HB 1839, a similar bill that passed) SB 1627 (Wentworth) – Would have created an atmosphere modification research center at Texas Tech University to conduct research on controlling precipitation. This bill was considered by the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 3, but was left pending.

ROLE AND MISSION / INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES HB 323 (Oliveira/Lucio) – Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish a Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at The University of Texas at Brownsville. Authorizes the center to develop and manage an economic database on the Texas-Mexico border; perform economic development planning and research; provide technical assistance to industrial and governmental entities; and in cooperation with other state agencies, coordinate economic and enterprise development planning activities of state agencies to ensure that the economic needs of the Border are integrated within a comprehensive state economic development plan. Authorizes the Center to offer seminars and conduct conferences and other educational programs concerning the Border economy and economic and enterprise within the state. Requires t

45

he board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish the Center at the time determined appropriate by the board considering the money available for that purpose and the best interests of the university. Authorizes, but does not require, the board of regents to establish the Center using appropriations or money available, including gifts, grants, and donations, for that purpose. Effective Date June 13, 2001 HB 753 (Hochberg/Ellis) – Authorizes The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to jointly offer master’s- and doctoral-level courses and degrees with The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The degree programs to be offered are subject to the approval by the Coordinating Board.

Effective Date May 11, 2001 HB 910 (Gutierrez/Lucio) – Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center (TAMUHSC) South Texas Center for Rural Public Health (Center). Requires the Center to develop and provide community-based instructional sites for the education of public health professionals and the delivery of health education outreach programs. The Center may include other public and private health care or educational institutions in its programs in the area served by the Center. The Center may operate education facilities and enter in agreements with other educational entities in the Rio Grande Valley. The TAMUHSC will manage the Center and pay its operating costs from the institution's operating funds, or from available funds of any participating institution or other public or private entities. The Center could be used to provide public health graduate education or other levels of health education in the area served by the Center in connection with any component institution of The Texas A&M System. The Center may also use community outreach programs to provide people receiving education at the Center with necessary experience. The Center is subject to continuing supervision by the Coordinating Board. Since the Legislature did not appropriate any funds specifically to establish the Center, the board of regents is not required to implement this bill. If the board of regents does establish the Center, the Coordinating Board will be required to prepare an impact statement examining the initial implementation of the bill not later than August 31, 2002. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1640 (Rangel/Truan) – Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to establish and maintain a school of pharmacy as a professional school at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). Authorizes the board of regents to prescribe courses leading to customary degrees offered at other leading American schools of pharmacy and may award those degrees. Requires the Coordinating Board to prepare an impact statement examining the initial implementation of this bill and deliver a copy to the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System and to the chairs of the House Higher Education Committee and Senate Education Committee not later than August 31, 2002. (Note: The Legislature authorized $11 million in tuition revenue bonds in HB 658 for the construction of the pharmacy school and $350,000 in general revenue to TAMUK for the start-up costs.) Effective Date May 24, 2001 HB 1685 (Rangel/Bivins) – Authorizes a general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit to establish a partnership or affiliation with another entity to offer or conduct courses for academic credit or to offer or operate a degree program under certain circumstances. If the governing board or other appropriate official of the institution or unit determines that the partnership or affiliation is consistent with the role and mission established for the institution or unit, if it is in accordance with the degree and certificate programs authorized to be offered by

46

the institution or unit, and if it is consistent with the role and mission of the university system to which the institution or unit belongs, then the partnership or affiliation may be established. Otherwise, the partnership or affiliation must be approved by the Coordinating Board. The exception is if the partnership or affiliation is established to secure or provide clinical or other similar practical educational experience in connection with a course or degree program authorized to be offer by the institution or unit. Effective Date June 17, 2001 HB 1753 (Gutierrez/Zaffirini) – Authorizes The University of Texas-Pan American to enter into a partnership agreement with the South Texas Community College District to allow the district to offer the lower-division courses required for students admitted to a baccalaureate degree program at the university. Lower-division courses taken at the community college will transfer automatically to the university on the student’s successful completion of the courses. Authorizes the university to establish an extension campus at Rio Grande City to offer the upper-division courses required for students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at the university. Requires the Coordinating Board to prepare an impact statement examining the initial implementation of this bill and deliver a copy to the board of regents of The University of Texas System, the board of trustees of the South Texas Community College District and the chairs of the House Higher Education Committee and Senate Education Committee not later than May 31, 2002. Effective Date May 3, 2001 HB 2054 (Coleman/Ellis) – Amends the stated mission of Texas Southern University by designating it as a "statewide general purpose institution of higher education" (rather than “providing other general academic and related programs”) in addition to its designation as a special purpose institution for urban programming. Effective Date June 11, 2001 HB 2344 (Oliveira/Lucio) – Deletes the provision in the enabling statute for The University of Texas at Brownsville that limits the total number of lower-division students enrolled in the year preceding the 2005-2006 academic year to no more than 900 students. Effective Date June 15, 2001 HB 2840 (Telford/Staples) – Authorizes Texas A&M University-Texarkana to enter into a partnership agreement with Texarkana College in a manner authorized by the Coordinating Board. Allows students enrolled at Texarkana College to be simultaneously enrolled at the university as long as they meet the enrollment requirements at the university. Effective Date May 21, 2001 HB 3309 (Hochberg/Ellis) – Establishes the Southeast Texas Biotechnology Park Coalition to develop, fund, and operate the Park in the Houston area known as the Texas Medical Center, or the coalition may establish a non-profit corporation to develop and operate the Park. The coalition is composed of public and private health-related institutions and other private for-profit, non-profit and governmental institutions. The Park will be operated to carry out the mission of

47

the coalition members, enhance economic development of the state from the commercialization of biotechnology research, recruit and retain leading scientists and established biotechnology enterprises, and support the growth and development of new biotechnology enterprises. Effective Date June 11, 2001 SB 576 (West, Royce/Jones, Jesse) – Authorizes the establishment of the University of North Texas at Dallas only after the Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at the University of North Texas System Center at Dallas has reached an enrollment equivalent to 2,500 full-time students for one semester and makes other changes relative to the operation of the University of North Texas System. Effective Date May 2, 2001 SB 989 (Ogden/Williams) – Amends the stated mission of Prairie View A&M University by deleting language stating that one of the purposes of the university is to offer programs enabling students with latent aptitudes, talents, and abilities to realize their full potential. Effective Date May 3, 2001 SB 1429 (West, Royce/Lewis, Glenn) – Establishes the Center for Relationship Violence Prevention and Intervention at Prairie View A&M University to be managed by the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System. Authorizes the Center to provide services and shelter to victims and perpetrators of relationship violence; conduct, coordinate, collect and evaluate research in all areas relating to relationship violence; provide a setting for educational programs relating to relationship violence; serve as a state and national resource for this type of information; develop programs and create partnerships addressing this issue. The establishment of the Center is subject to the availability of federal funding. The board of regents may not use legislative appropriations to establish or operate the Center. Effective Date September 1, 2001 Role and Mission / Institutional Changes Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 1129 (Rangel) – Would have required the Governor and Senate to take into consideration the geographic diversity of the state when making appointments to university governing boards. This bill was favorably reported by the House Higher Education Committee and was considered in the House Calendars Committee on April 17. HB 1210 (Garcia) – Would have required the board of regents of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school of law within the city limits of Dallas. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee. The committee substitute would have required the Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a law school at the University of North Texas, rather than establishing the law school. This bill was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 25. HB 1211 (Garcia) – Would have required the board of regents of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school of pharmacy at the University of North Texas. This bill was favorably reported as substituted by the House Higher Education Committee. The committee substitute would have required the Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a school of pharmacy at the University of North Texas, rather than establishing the pharmacy school. This bill was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 24. HB 1814 (Wohlgemuth) – Would have exempted certain postsecondary religious institutions from any regulation by an agency or political subdivision of this state with respect to the content or character of the

48

educational program of the institution. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on March 13, but was left pending. HB 2521 (Wilson) – Would have established a medical school at Prairie View A&M University. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on March 27, but no action was taken (see HB 42, a related bill that passed). HB 3469 (McClendon/West, Royce) – Would have established a medical school at Prairie View A&M University. This bill was passed by the full House and was considered by the Senate Education Committee on May 11, but was left pending (see HB 42, a related bill that passed). HB 3568 (George) – Would have consolidated The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas into The University of Texas at Dallas. This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on April 10, but no action was taken. HB 3607 (Garcia) – Would have transferred governance of The University of Texas’ Dallas-Fort Worth institutions to the University of North Texas, creating the University of North Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on April 3, but was left pending. SB 75 (Haywood) – Would have authorized the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth to establish and operate a facility, program or campus extension in any county. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 10. SB 1303 (Shapleigh) – Would have established a doctor of medicine degree program at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on March 12.

TECHNOLOGY / ENGINEERING HB 3028 (Dunnam/Sibley) – Requires the Coordinating Board to conduct an annual state science and engineering fair as part of an outreach program for middle, junior and high school students to promote an interest in science, math, and engineering and to promote workforce development in these fields by providing students with an opportunity to interact with higher education and corporate institutions. Authorizes the Coordinating Board to contract with public or private entities to conduct the state fairs and requires the fairs be coordinated with local and regional fairs. The first state fair conducted by the Coordinating Board will take place in 2002 at a date and time to be determined by the Board. Effective Date June 11, 2001 SB 353 (Ellis/McCall) – Authorizes eligible engineering and computer science institutions and private companies to establish and administer the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium as a resource-sharing program operated within an eligible institution. Requires the consortium to include at least one eligible engineering institution or eligible computer science institution. Establishes in the State Treasury a technology workforce development account administered by the Coordinating Board. The account will include funds transferred by the Consortium and state matching appropriations. The Coordinating Board will make grants from the account to eligible institutions to increase the number of computer science and electrical engineering graduates. Requires the Coordinating Board, in awarding grants, to consider certain factors with respect to the engineering or computer science program of each eligible institution. Requires the

49

Coordinating Board to appoint an advisory committee of 11 specified members with significant expertise in engineering, computer science, or higher education. Requires an eligible engineering or computer science institution that is awarded a grant to report to the Coordinating Board on the use of that grant not later than September 1 of each year. Requires the Coordinating Board, not later than October 31 of each year, to provide to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Consortium participants a report consolidated from reports submitted to the Coordinating Board by eligible institutions. Requires the Coordinating Board to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program by appointing an advisory committee. Requires the grant program evaluation committee to report the results of its evaluation to the Coordinating Board not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year. Requires the Coordinating Board to report the results of the evaluation to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Consortium participants not later than October 31 of each even-numbered year. (Note: The Legislature appropriated from the Smart Jobs Fund $10 million for the biennium to the Coordinating Board in the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Sec. 11.22, page IX-119 to fund the program.)


SB 1190 (Ellis/McCall) – Authorizes an institution of higher education, subject to the approval by its governing board, to establish centers to manage, transfer, market, or commercialize technology owned by it or in which it owns an interest. Directs the Coordinating Board to prepare a biennial report regarding commercialization activities undertaken by the institutions, and requires institutional input on the report format. Effective Date September 1, 2001 Technology Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 660 (Seaman/Van de Putte) – Would have added career and technology education to the objectives for public school education and permitted school districts to provide instruction in career and technology awareness at middle and junior high schools. A nine-member Career and Technology Education Advisory Board would have been created, with two members representing higher education, to assist the Texas Education Agency in developing a state plan for career and technology. This bill passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by the Governor on June 17. HB 3300 (Solis, Jim) – Would have created the 21st Century Technology College and Careers grant program to strengthen and sustain existing partnerships in each region of the state to better serve the academic and career interests of students and their parents, the workforce needs of employers, and the economic development goals of communities in the 21st century. This bill was passed by the full House and referred to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on May 11. After the bill died, there was an attempt to revive it by adding it to HB 660, but it was removed in conference committee.

TRANSFER HB 1359 (Villarreal/Shapleigh) – Requires the Coordinating Board to develop a field of study curriculum for at least 10 degree programs designated by the Board as high-demand programs for transfer students and that are common to more than one general academic teaching institution not later than January 1, 2003. The Coordinating Board is also required to report to the Legislature regarding the progress in developing these fields of study curricula. Requires the Coordinating Board to develop fields of study curricula for an additional five high-demand degree programs not later than January 1, 2004 and report its progress to the Legislature. Requires the Coordinating Board to pursue a management strategy that maximizes efficiency in the development of curricula for different fields of study. Requires each institution of higher

50

education, in its course catalogs and website, to publish guidelines addressing the institution’s practices on transfer of course credit. In the guidelines, the institution must identify a course by using any common course numbering system adopted by the Coordinating Board. Effective Date June 14, 2001

TUITION AND FEES HB 152 (Brown, Fred/Ogden) – Establishes a pilot program for resident undergraduate students who are enrolled for a summer term or session at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville to be charged not more than one-half the amount they would normally be charged. The bill requires implementation of this law only if the Legislature specifically appropriates money to the institutions to cover the tuition revenue lost to the institution. (Note: The Legislature did not appropriate any funds; therefore this bill will not be implemented.)

Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1403 (Noriega/Van de Putte) – Classifies a non-United States citizen as a Texas resident if they resided in Texas for at least three years with a parent or legal guardian while attending high school, graduated from a Texas public or private high school or received a GED in this state, provides the institution of higher education with an affidavit stating his/her intent to apply for permanent residency, and enrolls for the first time in an institution of higher education after September 1, 2001. Anyone who holds a non-immigrant visa which allows them to establish domicile in the United States or who has applied, or has a petition pending, for permanent residency with the Immigration and Naturalization Services also qualifies for resident tuition. Effective Date June 16, 2001 HB 1465 (Kitchen/Barrientos) – Requires the Coordinating Board to establish a pilot project at selected public community colleges to measure the impact of reducing tuition for courses offered at times of low enrollment demand to promote greater access to higher education and more efficient use of community college facilities and resources. Requires the governing board of each participating community college to prepare a report on the effects of the reduced tuition on enrollment, facilities, scheduling, and costs to the Coordinating Board not later than October 30, 2002. Requires the Coordinating Board to prepare a report compiling the results of the pilot project to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the House Higher Education Committee and Senate Education Committee not later than December 15, 2002. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1467 (Maxey/Barrientos) – Authorizes the governing board of a junior or community college to establish a percentage tuition set-aside for Texas Public Education Grants at a level between 6 percent and 20 percent. Effective Date May 26, 2001 HB 1941 (Delisi/Truan) – Reduces the time period that a family member of military personnel must have previously lived in Texas to qualify for resident tuition from one year to six months.


HB 2218 (Rangel/Staples) – Authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education, other than The University of Texas at Austin, to increase the international education

51

fee charged and collected from students registered at the institution contingent on the majority vote of a student referendum. Effective Date June 15, 2001 HB 2531 (Junell/Bivins) – Increases student tuition at public institutions of higher education by $2 per semester credit hour each academic year for the next five years beginning in the 2001-02 academic year (beginning at $42 per hour). Also increases tuition at law schools and graduate or professional pharmacy programs by requiring the tuition rate to be set at a level that is three times the amount currently specified by law (same as SB 1814). Requires each governing board, for billing and catalogue purposes, to accumulate all the tuition that it charges into one tuition charge. Prohibits the maximum loan amount per student from being less than an amount equal to the tuition and required fees for the courses in which the student is actually enrolling, unless the institution determines that a lower amount would be in the best interest of the student. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 2575 (Goolsby/Shapiro) – Raises the limit on charges for compulsory student services fees from $150 to $250 collected from a student at an institution of higher education other than The University of Texas at Austin or a component institution of the University of Houston System for any one semester or summer session. Requires that in subsequent years, a student election authorizing a fee increase must be held before the fee can be increased by more than 10 percent of the fee approved by the last student election. Effective Date June 14, 2001 HB 3524 (Hochberg/Zaffirini) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish a pilot project at The University of Texas at Austin involving not more than two colleges or degree programs designated by the board of regents under which the university charges the same amount of tuition to all undergraduate students enrolled in a college or degree program included in the pilot project. Prohibits the board of regents from requiring a full-time student who pays tuition under the pilot project to pay more tuition than the average amount of tuition that a student not included in the pilot project would be required to pay. The board of regents will evaluate the effect of flat-rate tuition charged under the pilot project on the number of semester credit hours taken by students included in the project each semester. The board of regents will report the results to the Legislature not later than December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2004. Effective Date June 11, 2001 SB 743 (Lucio/Coleman) – Authorizes students from Mexico attending The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's School of Public Health satellite campuses in El Paso and Brownsville to pay resident tuition rates. Entitles a foreign service officer employed by the United States Department of State who is enrolled in an institution of higher education to pay resident tuition if the person is assigned to an office of the department of state that is located in a foreign nation that borders on this state. Prohibits the maximum loan amount per student from being greater, rather than less, than an amount equal to the tuition and required fees for the courses in which the student is actually enrolling. Effective Date May 14, 2001

52

SB 1472 by (Ogden/Williams) – Raises the cap on the general property deposit that can be charged to a student of a public institution of higher education from $10 to $100 and makes the collection of the fee permissive rather than mandatory. Effective Date June 15, 2001 SB 1814 (Ellis/Rangel) – Increases tuition at law schools and graduate or professional pharmacy programs by requiring the tuition rate to be set at a level that is three times the amount currently specified by law (same as HB 2531). Effective Date June 13, 2001 The following bills allow various institutions to establish or increase fees: HB 120 (West, George “Buddy”/Duncan) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a student intercollegiate athletic fee at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin if it is approved by a majority vote of a student election.

Effective Date May 11, 2001 HB 461 (Crownover/Haywood) – Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to impose a recreational fee on students if it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Also prohibits the board of regents from increasing this fee by more than 10 percent unless it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 462 (Crownover/Haywood) – Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to levy fees for medical services. Also prohibits the board of regents from increasing this fee by more than 10 percent unless it is approved by a majority vote of a student election.

Effective Date May 28, 2001 HB 467 (Solomons/Nelson) – Authorizes of the board of regents of Texas Woman's University to levy student fees for medical services. Also prohibits the board of regents from increasing this fee by more than 10 percent unless it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date May 28, 2001 HB 1023 (Brown, Fred/Ogden) – Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to charge an increased maximum recreational sports fee if it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 1024 (Brown, Fred/Ogden) – Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to raise the maximum student center complex fee. Also prohibits the board of regents from increasing this fee unless it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date June 14, 2001 SB 462 (Duncan/Jones, Delwin) – Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to levy student fees for medical services. Prohibits the board of regents from increasing this fee by more than 10 percent unless it is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date May 11, 2001

53

SB 627 (Staples/Berman) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at Tyler if the fee is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date May 3, 2001 SB 628 (Staples/Berman) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a recreational facility fee on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at Tyler if the fee is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date May 3, 2001 SB 1498 (Harris/Goodman) – Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a recreational facility fee on all students at The University of Texas at Arlington if the fee is approved by a majority vote of a student election. Effective Date May 18, 2001 Tuition and Fees Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 528 (Bailey) – Would have authorized the governing board of a junior college district to waive the foreign student tuition for a student who is a resident of the Mexico, who registers for lower-division courses at a public junior college operated by the district, and who demonstrates a financial need. Would have also required a foreign student for whom the junior college district waived the foreign student tuition to pay tuition at the rate charged Texas residents who reside outside the junior college district. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on January 31.

HB 683 (Green) – Would have prohibited colleges and universities from charging a student a fee that would be used for organizations engaging in political or ideological activities unless the student authorized the use of the fee. This bill was considered by the House Higher Education Committee on February 20, but was left pending. HB 2276 (Giddings) – Would have provided a $500 tuition rebate to community college students who earn an associate degree or certificate within three semester credit hours of the minimum required to complete the program. This bill passed the full House and was referred to the Senate Education Committee on May 11.

SB 733 – Would have allowed community colleges bordering Mexico to waive the foreign student tuition for Mexican students who demonstrate financial need and would have allowed these students to pay Texas resident tuition. This bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on February 19.

TUITION AND FEES – WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS HB 459 (Carter/Moncrief) – Amends current law to allow the children of deceased or disabled police officers, fully-paid/volunteer firefighters, custodial employees of the Texas Department of Corrections, or game wardens to receive a tuition and fee exemption for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit hours rather than eight consecutive semesters. Effective Date June 11, 2001 HB 877 (Flores/Barrientos) – Provides for an exemption from tuition and fees to a surviving spouse or minor child of a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, and other public safety workers killed in the line of duty. Eligibility continues until the student receives a baccalaureate degree or earns 200 hours of course credit, whichever occurs first. If the student chooses to live on

54

campus and qualifies for housing, the institution is required to pay the cost of the student's food and housing. If there is no space available, the institution is required to pay the student each month the equivalent amount that the institution would have expended had the student lived on campus. The institution is also required to pay to the student the cost of the student's textbooks. Effective Date September 1, 2001 HB 2279 (Naishtat/Barrientos) – Amends the one-year tuition and fee exemption program for certain recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) by allowing these students to enroll at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student not later than the second anniversary, rather than the first, of the date of graduation from a public high school in this state. Effective Date June 15, 2001 Tuition and Fees – Waivers and Exemptions Legislation that Failed to Pass HB 51 (Chavez) – Would have allowed universities to provide undergraduate tuition and fee exemptions for children of public school teachers and librarians. This bill was referred to a subcommittee of the House Higher Education Committee on February 13. HB 172 (Lewis, Glenn) – Would have allowed universities and colleges to exempt peace officers enrolled in criminal justice programs from tuition and fees. This bill was referred to a subcommittee of the House Higher Education Committee on March 6. HB 1120 (Turner, Bob) – Would have authorized tuition and fee exemptions for peace officers attending undergraduate courses. This bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee on February 7. HB 2980 (Dukes) – Would have required institutions of higher education to exempt from tuition and fees children of firefighters and peace officers. This bill was referred to a subcommittee of the House Higher Education Committee on April 3. (See HB 877, a similar bill that passed) HB 3004 (Bailey) – Would have allowed colleges and universities to exempt from tuition and fees fire fighters disabled in the line of duty. This bill was favorably reported by the House Higher Education Committee and was sent to the House Calendars Committee on April 17. (See HB 877, a similar bill that passed)

TUITION REVENUE BONDS HB 658 (Junell/Ellis) – Authorizes the issuance of over $1 billion in new tuition revenue bonds to acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate buildings, structures, facilities, roads or related infrastructure at certain public institutions of higher education.


Summary of Higher Education Legislation - 77th Legislature

Documents

Transcript of Summary of Higher Education Legislation - 77th Legislature