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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to studies and determinations by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board regarding funding to accomplish the |
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goals of the state master plan for public higher education "Closing |
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the Gaps." |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0593 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0593. DETERMINATIONS REGARDING REQUIRED FUNDING |
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FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF "CLOSING THE GAPS." (a) In each |
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even-numbered year during the period covered by the state master |
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plan for higher education "Closing the Gaps," as then revised, the |
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board shall study and determine the additional amount of money |
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needed for the next state fiscal biennium from each of the sources |
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described by Subsection (b) that, in combination with the amount of |
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money that would otherwise be required to adequately fund public |
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higher education in this state, would provide sufficient funding to |
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accomplish in a timely manner each of the following purposes in that |
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biennium in relation to the goals of the master plan: |
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(1) acquiring, constructing, and improving |
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instructional and support facilities; |
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(2) acquiring instructional equipment and supplies, |
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including laboratory equipment; |
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(3) paying costs of instruction, including salaries |
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and benefits for faculty; |
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(4) providing for general administration at |
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institutions of higher education, including salaries and benefits |
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to administrative and other staff; |
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(5) providing student financial aid; |
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(6) recruiting and retaining students and faculty; |
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(7) providing tutoring or other academic support to |
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students; |
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(8) obtaining and administering federal and private |
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research and development grants and projects; and |
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(9) any other purpose the board considers appropriate. |
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(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), the board shall |
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determine the amount of money that would be required to be |
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contributed during the next state fiscal biennium from the |
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following sources: |
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(1) state revenue, from any available source; |
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(2) revenue from tuition and fees; |
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(3) federal funding revenue, from any available |
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source; and |
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(4) any other sources, including private sources, |
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determined appropriate by the board. |
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(c) Not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year |
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during the period covered by the revised "Closing the Gaps" plan, |
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the board shall submit to the chair of each legislative standing |
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committee or subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over higher |
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education or state appropriations a report stating the |
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determinations made under this section for the next state fiscal |
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biennium. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |