HBA-KMH H.B. 3164 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3164
By: McReynolds
Higher Education
3/29/1999
Introduced


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

On average, salaries for faculty at public universities in Texas are 9.22
percent lower than the average of the other 10 most populous states,
according to the American Association of University Professors.  This
difference could affect a university's ability to recruit prospective
faculty.   The need for greater recruitment efforts has been heightened by
the expected rise in enrollments resulting from population growth and
legislative efforts to increase educational access.  Faculty retention also
has become a problem.  As institutions increase salaries for new hires, the
salaries for current employees remain stagnant.  Many experienced
professors and instructors are leaving the state for higher paying jobs. 

H.B. 3164 requires the governing board of institutions of higher education
to perform a study and then implement a plan, if determined necessary, to
raise faculty salary levels to that of their colleagues in the 10 most
populous states, over the next six years. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding
Section 51.9081, as follows: 

Sec.  51.9081.  FACULTY COMPENSATION POLICIES UNTIL 2005.  (a) Requires the
governing board of each institution of higher education to compare the
average salary of each faculty level at the institution for the state
fiscal biennium ending September 1, 1999, with the average salary for that
faculty level in the 10 most populous states, excluding Texas, according to
the most recent available data.  Requires the study to be completed by
January 1, 2000.  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(coordinating board) to assist the governing body of the institution in
obtaining the information necessary to administer the section. 

(b) Requires the governing body to report a determination that the average
salary for that institution is less than that paid in other states and the
relevant data to the coordinating board.  Requires the coordinating board
to adopt a formula for that institution to reduce the percentage difference
between the average salary of each faculty level by one-third in each of
the next three state fiscal bienniums, to the extent funds are available,
in order to at least equalize the salaries by that time.  Requires the
institution to implement the formula or take other action necessary to
achieve the same or greater average salary of each faculty level by the end
of each biennium covered by the formula. 

(c) Requires the coordinating board in establishing funding formulas under
Section 61.059 (Appropriations), to account for any salary increases
required to be made at those institutions under Subsection (b). 

(d) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2005.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.