78R6701 JSA-D

By:  Swinford                                                     H.B. No. 2505



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the review of the administration of university systems 
and identification of potential administrative and organizational 
reforms.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 61.0515 to read as follows:
	Sec. 61.0515.  REVIEW OF UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.  
(a)  The board shall perform a review of the organization and 
operations of each university system office to:
		(1)  identify appropriate organizational structures 
for university systems and system offices;
		(2)  identify and quantify workforce and other 
resources at each system office used to provide services and 
functions common to each system office; and
		(3)  determine the extent to which system 
administration employees are performing services and functions 
that are also provided by employees of individual component 
institutions of each university system.
	(b)  In the review, the board shall identify the number and 
types of administrative and executive positions in the 
administration of each university system, and shall examine each 
major function, service, or activity performed by university system 
offices, including:
		(1)  central administration;                                           
		(2)  academic affairs coordination and support;                        
		(3)  general counsel and other legal services;                         
		(4)  budgeting, accounting, and data reporting;                        
		(5)  fiscal management;                                                
		(6)  facilities planning and construction;                             
		(7)  governmental relations;                                           
		(8)  audit services;                                                   
		(9)  real estate management;                                           
		(10)  information technology services; and                             
		(11)  aircraft operation and usage.                                    
	(c)  Not later than November 1, 2004, the board shall prepare 
a report of the review and deliver the report to the lieutenant 
governor, speaker of the house of representatives, Legislative 
Budget Board, and chair of the standing committee of each house of 
the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education.  
In the report, the board shall state its findings and identify 
opportunities for legislative and administrative action relating 
to:
		(1)  the reorganization of university system offices 
and functions;  
		(2)  the consolidation or reorganization of university 
systems; and  
		(3)  the consolidation or centralization of functions, 
services, or activities of university system offices.
	(d)  In the report, the board shall identify potential 
reductions in personnel and other cost savings associated with each 
legislative or administrative action the board identifies under 
Subsection (c).
	(e)  This section expires September 1, 2005.                            
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.