Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on S/C on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1772 by Watson (Relating to establishing a commission to study and report on a long-range plan for higher education in this state.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill establishes a Commission to conduct a study and report on a long-range plan for higher education in the state. The Commission is composed of eighteen members. Expenses of the commission are paid in equal amounts from accounts of the senate and house, or as otherwise agreed to by the lieutenant governor and speaker.
The bill provides a number of issues for study, including incentives and requirements for seamless student transitions from high school, a method for better communication and coordination between universities and the business community, capacity concerns at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, creation of additional flagship research universities, a method to identify the state universities' missions and areas of expertise, alternative methods for funding universities and a review of financial aid programs . The Commission is required to prepare a report based on the study and submit the report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, and Coordinating Board by October 1, 2008.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration