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.
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