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.
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
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 the president of each institution of higher education (institution) to develop a uniform application form to be used by the institution to solicit applicants for the position of student representative (representative) to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
(c) Requires each institution to solicit applicants for appointment to the next regular term of the position of representative, not later than September 1 of each year, except as provided by Subsection (g). Sets forth the recommendation process and procedures to be followed by the student government and the president of each institution. Authorizes THECB to request to review information required to be removed from an application by the student government or the president of an institution under this subsection. Requires the governor, on February 1, or as soon thereafter as practicable, with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint one of the applicants to serve as the representative for THECB for a one-year term expiring on the next February 1. Provides that the governor is not required to appoint an applicant recommended by the president of an institution.
(d) Requires a representative to be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an institution of higher education at the time of appointment and throughout the representative's term. Provides that for purposes of this subsection, a person is considered to be enrolled in an institution for a summer term if the person was enrolled in the institution for the preceding semester and other certain conditions apply.
(e) 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.
(f) Entitles a representative to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the representative in attending the meetings of THECB, subject to the approval of the chairman of THECB. Provides that a representative serves without compensation.
(g) 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.
(h) Requires a vacancy in the representative position to be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
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) Authorizes a president of an institution to solicit applicants for student representative for THECB advisory committees for certain administrative and education subjects.
(c) Requires the student government of the institution, not later than September 1 of each year, to review any applications received for appointment to the next regular term of the position of representative for one or more of the advisory committees described by Subsection (b). Sets forth the recommendation process and procedures to be followed by the student government and the president of each institution. Authorizes THECB to request to review information required to be removed from an application by the student government or the president of an institution under this subsection. Requires THECB, on February 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable, to appoint to each advisory committee one of the applicants to serve as the student representative on the committee for a one-year term expiring on the next February 1. Provides that THECB is not required to appoint an applicant recommended by the president of an institution as the representative on an advisory committee.
(d) Requires a representative to be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an institution at the time of appointment and throughout the student representative's term. Provides that for purposes of this subsection, a person is considered to be enrolled in an institution for a summer term if the person was enrolled in the institution for the preceding semester and other certain conditions apply.
(e) 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.
(f) Entitles a representative to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the representative in attending the meetings of the committee, subject to the approval of the chairman of THECB. Provides that a representative serves without compensation.
(g) 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 February 1, 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 a representative for THECB and each of the advisory committees for that initial term.
SECTION4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.