BILL ANALYSIS
By: West, Royce
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, there is no direct student input at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), which oversees all higher education policies that affect students.
As proposed, S.B. 1007 authorizes a student to serve as a student representative on THECB, but without voting power. The bill also authorizes students to serve on student-issue advisory committees of THECB.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 61 of the Education Code, by adding Section 61.0225 relating to a nonvoting student representative. Defines "board," and "student government."
Provides that a student representative shall be appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board). Provides that a student representative is not a state officer. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by this section, the appointment of a student representative to the board shall be made in the same manner as a student regent is appointed. Provides that the student representative to the board serves a term that is the same as the term of a student regent appointed.
Provides that the board shall develop a uniform application form to be used by each institution of higher education (institution) to solicit applicants for the position of student representative to the board. Provides that for an institution of higher education that is not part of a university system, the president of the institution (president), from among the applicants selected as the student government's recommendations for the position, shall select two or more applicants to recommend and send the applications of those applicants to the governor in accordance with the deadline established for a chancellor to send applications to the governor for a student regent.
Provides that a student representative to the board must meet the minimum requirements prescribed for a student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution. Provides that the student representative has the same powers and duties as the members of the board, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the board, except that the student representative may not vote on any matter before the board or make or second any motion before the board; and is not counted in determining whether a quorum exists for a meeting of the board or in determining the outcome of any vote of the board.
Provides that the student representative serves without pay but shall be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the student representative in attending the meetings of the board or in attending to other work of the board when that work is approved by the chairman of the board. Provides that the student government of the institution at which a current student representative was enrolled at the time of the student representative's appointment may not solicit applicants for the position of student representative for the next regular term of the position. Provides that a vacancy in the position of student representative shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor.
SECTION 2: Subchapter C, Chapter 61 of the Education Code is amended by adding Section 61.071 relating to student representatives on certain advisory committees. Defines "board," and "student government." Provides that not later than August 1 of each year, the board shall provide to each institution a list of available positions for student representatives on board advisory committees, the effective terms of those positions, and the duties and requirements for each position; a maximum number of nominees determined by the board allowed to be submitted by each institution for each position; and an application form for appointment to an advisory committee.
Provides that not later than September 1 of each year, the president of each institution shall establish a nomination process for the available positions for student representatives on board advisory committees and shall 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.
Provides that not later than December 1, the president shall forward the applications of the nominees selected by the president to the board for consideration. Provides that not later than February 1, the board shall appoint a total of not less than four student representatives to designated advisory committees of the board, including the Common Application Advisory Committee, the Distance Education Advisory Committee, the Financial Aid Advisory Committee, the Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee, the Transfer Issues Advisory Committee, or any other advisory committee created to address the needs of higher education, including committees addressing financial aid, student services, and undergraduate education needs.
Provides that a student representative on an advisory committee must meet minimum requirements prescribed for a nonvoting student regent, as those requirements apply to an institution. Provides that a student representative on an advisory committee 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 student representative may not vote on any matter before the committee, or make or second 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. Provides that a student representative on an advisory committee serves without pay. Provides that a vacancy in the position of student representative on an advisory committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the board.
SECTION 3: Provides that the initial term of a student representative appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.0225 of the Education Code, as added by this Act, or for a coordinating board advisory committee under Section 61.071 of the Education Code, as added by this Act, expires May 31, 2009. Provides that the appropriate student governments, the president of each institution of higher education, the coordinating board, and the governor shall take the actions required by Sections 61.0225 and 61.071 of the Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect to select the initial student representative to the coordinating board and the initial student representatives on advisory committees of the coordinating board.
SECTION 4: Effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.