1-1 By: West, et al. S.C.R. No. 78 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed May 10, 1999; May 11, 1999, read first 1-3 time and referred to Committee on Education; May 14, 1999, reported 1-4 favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, 1-5 sent to printer.) 1-6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, Over the course of the twentieth century the State 1-8 of Texas has risen to become preeminent among the 50 states, more 1-9 diverse in the composition of its citizens and economy than most, 1-10 and more unified in its collective will to achieve than any other; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, This elevation of Texas in stature among the people 1-13 of the United States has been achieved not only through the benefit 1-14 of an abundance of natural resources and the drive and optimism of 1-15 its citizens, but also through the benefit of a strong system of 1-16 education, and the state has produced two presidents, the first 1-17 African-American congresswoman, countless productive citizens, and 1-18 advances in medicine, science, space exploration, computer 1-19 technology, and the arts; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In recent years the governor and the legislature 1-21 have successfully focused significant resources and attention on 1-22 the state's K-12 public education system in an effort to ensure 1-23 that every child receives an education of the highest quality, and 1-24 the increased resources and attention have yielded substantially 1-25 improved student academic performance and higher standardized test 1-26 scores; and 1-27 WHEREAS, The state's K-12 public education system is now 1-28 graduating increasingly higher percentages of students who are 1-29 academically and mentally prepared for the challenge and 1-30 opportunity to go to college; and 1-31 WHEREAS, A highly educated citizenry comprised of individuals 1-32 from all socioeconomic backgrounds will be critical to this state 1-33 in order to sustain its economy, ensure the health and safety of 1-34 its citizens, and create opportunity for all Texans in the 1-35 twenty-first century; and 1-36 WHEREAS, The 76th Legislature is the last legislature of the 1-37 twentieth century and wishes to ensure for the citizens of the next 1-38 century a system of higher education that is positioned to 1-39 successfully navigate the challenges of the twenty-first century; 1-40 now, therefore, be it 1-41 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-42 hereby create the Special Commission on Twenty-First Century 1-43 Colleges and Universities to study issues relating to the systems 1-44 and institutions of higher education in the state, including 1-45 two-year colleges and technical colleges, and the method and level 1-46 of funding for various institutions of higher education in the 1-47 state as it pertains to their mission and role; the accessibility 1-48 and affordability of higher education in the state, including how 1-49 projected changes in the demographics of the state may impact 1-50 higher education institution enrollment capacity, student 1-51 populations, state student financial assistance programs, and 1-52 higher education admissions policies; the historic success of 1-53 institutions of higher education in retaining, educating, and 1-54 graduating students, including the factors that impact individual 1-55 institution retention and graduation rates, and the merit of 1-56 employing a system of accountability among institutions of higher 1-57 education in the state; and the role of technology in the provision 1-58 of higher education services throughout the state, including the 1-59 efficiency of current higher education telecommunications and 1-60 distance-learning network infrastructures, and the role of this 1-61 medium in providing greater access to higher education services for 1-62 the citizens of the state; and, be it further 1-63 RESOLVED, That the commission be composed of 15 members, with 1-64 five members being appointed by the governor, five members being 2-1 appointed by the lieutenant governor, and five members being 2-2 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and, be 2-3 it further 2-4 RESOLVED, That the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker 2-5 of the house of representatives serve as honorary cochairs of the 2-6 commission. The lieutenant governor shall designate a member of 2-7 the commission as the chair of the commission and the speaker of 2-8 the house of representatives shall designate a member of the 2-9 commission as the vice chair of the commission; and, be it further 2-10 RESOLVED, That the chair may appoint advisory committees, as 2-11 necessary, whose composition may be determined by the chair and 2-12 whose members need not be members of the commission; and, be it 2-13 further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the commission shall hold meetings and public 2-15 hearings at the call of the chair, employ staff, and procure goods 2-16 and services as needed to further the work of the commission; and, 2-17 be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget Board, the Texas 2-19 Legislative Council, the Governor's Office, the Texas Education 2-20 Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the State 2-21 Auditor's Office, the senate, and the house of representatives be 2-22 authorized to provide staff support to the commission on the 2-23 request of the commission; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That the commission have authority to issue process 2-25 as provided in Sections 301.024 through 301.027, Government Code, 2-26 and that the commission, except as modified by or pursuant to this 2-27 resolution, have all other powers and duties provided to special 2-28 committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and the 2-29 Senate and House Rules of Procedure; and, be it further 2-30 RESOLVED, That the commission be authorized to request the 2-31 assistance, where needed in the discharge of its duties, of all 2-32 state agencies, departments, and offices and of all institutions of 2-33 higher education in the state and that it be the duty of such 2-34 agencies, departments, offices, and institutions of higher 2-35 education to assist the commission when requested to do so. The 2-36 commission shall have the power to inspect the records, documents 2-37 and files of all agencies, departments, and offices of the state 2-38 and all institutions of higher education to the extent necessary to 2-39 the discharge of its duties within the area of its jurisdiction; 2-40 and, be it further 2-41 RESOLVED, That the commission members and advisory committee 2-42 members be reimbursed from funds made available to the commission 2-43 for their necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the 2-44 provisions of this resolution in the same manner as is provided by 2-45 law for members of boards of state agencies and that the operating 2-46 expenses of the commission be paid from funds of the senate, the 2-47 house of representatives, the Texas Legislative Council, and other 2-48 participating agencies and institutions of higher education; and, 2-49 be it further 2-50 RESOLVED, That the commission be entitled to accept gifts, 2-51 grants, and donations, subject to such limitations or conditions as 2-52 may be provided by law; and, be it further 2-53 RESOLVED, That the commission make a complete report, 2-54 including findings, recommendations, and drafts of any legislation 2-55 deemed necessary, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2-56 2000. Copies of the reports shall be filed in the Legislative 2-57 Reference Library, with the Texas Legislative Council, with the 2-58 secretary of the senate, with the chief clerk of the house of 2-59 representatives, and with the office of the governor. 2-60 * * * * *