By Truan S.B. No. 349
77R636 KSD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Commission on 21st Century Colleges
1-3 and Universities.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Education Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Chapter 64 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 64. COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
1-8 Sec. 64.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-9 (1) "Commission" means the Commission on 21st Century
1-10 Colleges and Universities.
1-11 (2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1-12 Education Coordinating Board.
1-13 (3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
1-14 assigned by Section 61.003.
1-15 Sec. 64.002. SUNSET PROVISION. The Commission on 21st
1-16 Century Colleges and Universities is subject to Chapter 325,
1-17 Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence
1-18 as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished and this
1-19 chapter expires September 1, 2013.
1-20 Sec. 64.003. NATURE AND COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The
1-21 commission is an advisory commission composed of 15 voting members
1-22 as follows:
1-23 (1) the chair of the senate standing committee with
1-24 primary jurisdiction over higher education;
2-1 (2) the chair of the house standing committee with
2-2 primary jurisdiction over higher education;
2-3 (3) one member of the senate and four public members
2-4 appointed by the lieutenant governor;
2-5 (4) one member of the house of representatives and
2-6 four public members appointed by the speaker of the house of
2-7 representatives; and
2-8 (5) three public members appointed by the governor.
2-9 (b) The chairman of the coordinating board serves as a
2-10 nonvoting member of the commission.
2-11 (c) The speaker and lieutenant governor shall jointly select
2-12 the presiding officer of the commission from among the voting
2-13 members of the commission. The commission may designate other
2-14 officers as the commission considers appropriate.
2-15 Sec. 64.004. TERMS; VACANCIES. (a) Appointed public members
2-16 of the commission serve staggered terms of six years, with the
2-17 terms of either three or four members, as applicable, expiring
2-18 February 1 of each odd-numbered year. A member of the senate
2-19 appointed under Section 64.003(a)(3) or a member of the house of
2-20 representatives appointed under Section 64.003(a)(4) serves a term
2-21 of two years expiring on the next date the legislature convenes in
2-22 regular session.
2-23 (b) A vacancy on the commission is filled for the remainder
2-24 of the term by appointment by the entity that appointed the
2-25 vacating member.
2-26 Sec. 64.005. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The commission shall
2-27 conduct studies and make findings and recommendations the
3-1 commission considers appropriate regarding ways to prepare and
3-2 enhance the state's higher education system, focusing on the
3-3 following issues:
3-4 (1) the accessibility and affordability of higher
3-5 education, with special attention to the long-term impact of the
3-6 changing demographics of the state;
3-7 (2) the future workforce needs of the state and the
3-8 role of higher education in addressing those needs;
3-9 (3) the appropriate role and mission of institutions
3-10 of higher education in meeting state priorities;
3-11 (4) the effective use of technology in delivering
3-12 education and training;
3-13 (5) the development and improvement of appropriate
3-14 accountability measures and benchmarks to measure performance;
3-15 (6) the development of strategies to pursue and attain
3-16 academic excellence;
3-17 (7) the role of higher education in investment in
3-18 research and development and its link to economic growth;
3-19 (8) the use of funding mechanisms to reward
3-20 performance and provide incentives to address state priorities;
3-21 (9) the formation of partnerships with business for
3-22 training and retraining to address workforce demands; and
3-23 (10) the role of the coordinating board in pursuing
3-24 state priorities.
3-25 (b) The commission may request assistance and information,
3-26 other than confidential information relating to an individual, from
3-27 the coordinating board and any public institution of higher
4-1 education in this state.
4-2 Sec. 64.006. FUNDING. The expenses of the commission,
4-3 including the compensation of necessary staff, may be paid from any
4-4 appropriate funds of the house of representatives, the senate, a
4-5 legislative agency, or the office of the governor. The legislature
4-6 may appropriate money for the support of the commission.
4-7 Sec. 64.007. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
4-8 each even-numbered year, the commission shall prepare and deliver a
4-9 biennial report of the commission's activities, findings, and
4-10 recommendations to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
4-11 speaker of the house of representatives. The report shall include
4-12 any recommendations for legislative or administrative action the
4-13 commission considers appropriate.
4-14 SECTION 2. In appointing the initial members of the
4-15 Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities:
4-16 (1) the governor shall appoint one person to serve a
4-17 term expiring February 1, 2003, one to a term expiring February 1,
4-18 2005, and one to a term expiring February 1, 2007;
4-19 (2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one public
4-20 member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2003, one public member
4-21 to a term expiring February 1, 2005, and two public members to
4-22 terms expiring February 1, 2007; and
4-23 (3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
4-24 appoint one public member to serve a term expiring February 1,
4-25 2003, two public members to terms expiring February 1, 2005, and
4-26 one public member to a term expiring February 1, 2007.
4-27 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
5-1 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
5-2 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
5-3 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
5-4 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.