BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1007
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, there is no direct student input at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), which oversees all higher-education policies that affect students.
S.B. 1007 authorizes a student to serve as a student representative on THECB, but prohibits a student representative from having voting power. The bill also authorizes students to serve on student-issue advisory committees of THECB.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any 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 (representative) to be appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Provides that the representative is not a state officer. Requires the appointment of a representative to THECB, except as otherwise provided by this section, to be made in the same manner as a student regent is appointed under Section 51.355(c). Provides that the representative to THECB serves a term that is the same as the term of a student regent appointed under Section 51.355 (Nonvoting Student Regent; University System Board of Regents).
(c) Requires THECB to develop a uniform application form to be used by each institution of higher education (insititution) to solicit applicants for the position of representative to THECB.
(d) Sets forth the recommendation process and procedures to be followed by the president of an institution that is not part of a university system.
(e) Requires a student representative to THECB to meet the minimum requirements prescribed by Section 51.355(d) for a student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution of higher education.
(f) Provides that a representative has the same powers and duties as the members of THECB, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of THECB, except that the representative is prohibited from voting on any matter before THECB 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) Requires that the representative serve without pay but be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the representative in attending the meetings of THECB or in attending to other work of the board when that work is approved by the chairman of THECB.
(h) Prohibits the student government of the institution at which a current representative was enrolled at the time of the representative's appointment to solicit applicants for the position of the representative for the next regular term of the position.
(i) Requires a vacancy in the representative position 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, not later than August 1 of each year, to provide to each institution a list of available positions for student representative on THECB advisory committees, the effective terms of those positions, the duties and requirements for each position, a maximum number of nominees allowed to be submitted by each institution, and an application form for appointment to an advisory committee.
(c) Requires the president of each institution, not later than September 1 of each year, to establish a nomination process for the available positions for representatives to THECB advisory committees and to solicit student applications from which the president is authorized to select a number of applicant for those positions, not to exceed the maximum number designated by THECB for each position.
(d) Requires the president, not later than December 1, to forward applications of the nominees selected by the president to THECB for consideration. Requires THECB, not later than February 1, to appoint a total of not less than four representatives to designated advisory committees of THECB. Provides a list of THECB advisory committees to be included in the process.
(e) Requires a representative on an advisory committee to meet minimum requirements prescribed by Section 51.355(d) for a nonvoting student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution.
(f) Provides that a representative has the same powers and duties as the members of the advisory committee, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the committee, except that the representative is prohibited from voting on any matter before the committee 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 representative on an advisory committee serves without pay.
(h) Requires a vacancy in the position of student representative on an advisory committee to be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by THECB.
SECTION 3. Provides that the initial term of a representative appointed to THECB under Section 61.0225, as added by this Act, or for a coordinating THECB advisory committee under Section 61.071, Education Code, as added by this Act, expires May 31, 2009. Requires the appropriate student governments, the president of each institution of higher education, 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 representative to THECB and the initial representatives on advisory committees of THECB.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.