BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2225
80R10455 JRJ-D By: Giddings (West)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, there is no student representation on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
H.B. 2225 establishes a nonvoting student representative on THECB and on certain THECB advisory committees. The bill is tailored after the student representation bill of last session that established a student regent on the boards of regents of all public universities and university systems in the state. The bill also authorizes future applicable changes made to that prior legislation to be reflected in this legislation.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0225, as follows:
Sec. 61.0225. NONVOTING STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE. (a) Defines “board” and “student government.”
(b) Requires a student representative to be appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Provides that the student representative is not a state officer. Requires the appointment of a student representative to be made in the same manner as a student regent is appointed under Section 51.355(c) except as otherwise provided by this section. Provides that the student representative to the board serves a term that is the same as the term of a student regent appointed under Section 51.355 (Public Testimony at Certain Meetings of Governing Boards of General Academic Teaching Institutions).
(c) Requires THECB to develop a uniform application form to be used by each institution of higher education (institution) to solicit applicants for the position of student representative.
(d) Requires the president of an institution that is not part of a university system, from among the applicants selected as the student government's recommendations for the position of student representative, to select two or more applicants as the institution's recommendations for the position and to send the applications of those applicants to the governor in accordance with the deadline established under Section 51.355(c) for a chancellor to send applications to the governor for a student regent.
(e) Requires a student representative to meet the minimum requirements prescribed by Section 51.355(d) for a student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution.
(f) Provides that the student representative has the same powers and duties as the members of THECB, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the board, except that the student representative is prohibited from voting on any matter or making or seconding any motion before THECB and is not counted in determining whether a quorum exists for a meeting of THECB or in determining the outcome of any vote of THECB.
(g) Provides that the student representative serves without pay but is required to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the student representative in attending the THECB meetings or in attending to other work of THECB when that work is approved by the THECB chairman.
(h) Prohibits the student government of the institution at which a current student representative was enrolled at the time of the student representative's appointment from soliciting applicants for the position of student representative for the next regular term of the position.
(i) Requires a vacancy in the position of student representative to be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.071, as follows:
Sec. 61.071. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES ON CERTAIN BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) Defines “board” and “student government.”
(b) Requires THECB to provide the certain information relating to positions for student representatives on THECB advisory committees (committees) to each institution not later than August 1 of each year.
(c) Requires the president of each institution to establish a nomination process for the available positions for student representatives on THECB committees and to solicit student applications from which the president may select a number of applicants for those positions, not to exceed the maximum number designated by the board for each position, not later than September 1 of each year.
(d) Requires the president to forward the applications of the nominees selected by the president to THECB for consideration not later than December 1. Requires THECB to appoint a total of not less than four student representatives to designated advisory committees of the board, including certain committees set forth in this subsection, not later than February 1.
(e) Requires a student representative on a committee to meet the minimum requirements prescribed by Section 51.355(d) for a student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution.
(f) Provides that the student representative on a committee has the same powers and duties as committee members, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the board, except that the student representative is prohibited from voting on any matter or making or seconding any motion before the committee and is not counted in determining whether a quorum exists for a meeting of the committee or in determining the outcome of any vote of the committee.
(g) Provides that a student representative to a committee serves without pay.
(h) Requires a vacancy in the position of student representative to a committee to be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by THECB.
SECTION 3. Provides that the initial term of a student representative appointed to THECB under Section 61.0225, Education Code, as added by this Act, or for a THECB committee under Section 61.071, Education Code, as added by this Act, expires February 1, 2009. Requires the appropriate student governments, the president of each institution, THECB, and the governor to take the actions required by Sections 61.0225 and 61.071, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect to select the initial student representative to THECB and the initial student representatives on its advisory committees.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.