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Amend SB 286 on third reading by adding the following 
appropriately numbered SECTIONS and renumbering the other SECTIONS 
accordingly:
	SECTION ___.  The legislature finds that:                                      
		(1)  it is vital to the economy of this state that all 
areas of the state have access to quality higher education;
		(2)  it is in the interest of all residents of this 
state that a sufficiently funded higher education infrastructure 
exist that affords those residents opportunities to become educated 
and productive members of the state's economy; and
		(3)  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 
report on closing the gaps provides the state a blueprint for 
meeting its current and future higher education needs.
	SECTION ___.  (a)  An interim committee is established to 
study higher education funding formulas.  The interim committee is 
composed of:
		(1)  three members of the senate appointed by the 
lieutenant governor; and  
		(2)  three members of the house of representatives 
appointed by the speaker of the house.
	(b)  The membership of the committee from each house must be 
representative of all geographic areas of the state.
	(c)  The committee shall select a presiding officer from 
among its membership and shall meet at the call of the presiding 
officer.
	(d)  The committee shall:                                                      
		(1)  study the adequacy, availability, and equity of 
higher education funding and its relationship to closing the gaps, 
including factors such as per capita income, employment rate, 
percentage without college degrees, percentage of fall enrollment 
growth, and projected enrollment growth in the region served; and
		(2)  develop recommendations based on the study for 
changes in higher education funding formulas that maximize the 
state's limited resources to promote a skilled and viable workforce 
and to meet the needs of our diverse state economy.
	(e)  Not later than November 1, 2004, the committee shall 
prepare a report describing its recommendations and shall deliver 
the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the 
speaker of the house of representatives.
	(f)  The committee shall adopt procedures to administer this 
section.        
	(g)  Not later than November 1, 2003, the lieutenant governor 
and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the 
members of the interim committee.
	(h)  The committee is abolished and this section expires 
September 1, 2005.