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House Bill 4149 |
House Author: Rose et al. |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini |
House Bill 4149 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study to identify achievable cost-saving measures in the management and operation of higher education institutions and to submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer for each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education not later than January 31, 2011, including the board's recommendations concerning achievable cost‑saving measures and an estimate of the potential savings during a five-year period through the implementation of each recommendation.
The bill also requires the board to conduct a study and recommend policies regarding the use and availability of electronic textbooks in higher education in Texas and in other states, including a specific focus on the results of the pilot program implemented by The University of Texas at Austin and addressing methods for encouraging the use of electronic textbooks at public or private institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill requires each student serving on a university or institution board of regents to assist the board in performing the board's duties relating to such a study and requires the board to establish procedures to assist the student regent. The bill requires the board, not later than December 1, 2010, to make an initial report and recommendations based on the study to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education.