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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: West |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill proposes changing the term of a student member of certain Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) advisory committees. The term is changed from a one-year term, to a term not less than two years. This change of terms is needed because there were issues with the ability of the students to fully orient themselves to their position in only a one year term. By the time the students were getting comfortable with their responsibilities, their term was nearly up. To alleviate this problem, the term should be extended to two years. This would give students ample time to learn and adjust to their responsibilities and provide the THECB a more efficient and continuous means for this process.
As proposed, the bill provides that the term of a student representative on a THECB advisory committee may not be less than two years.
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
The bill amends the Education Code, by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), not later than August 1 of each odd-numbered year, rather than each year, to provide to each institution of higher education, among other things, a list of available positions for student representatives on THECB advisory committees, the effective term of each of those positions, rather than terms of those positions, and the duties and requirements for each position. Prohibits the term of a student representative on a THECB advisory committee from being less than two years.
The bill also requires the president of each institution of higher education, not later than the following December 1, to forward the applications of the nominees selected by the president to THECB for consideration. Requires THECB, not later than the following February 1, to appoint a total of not fewer than four student representatives, rather than not less than four student representatives, to designated advisory committees of THECB, including certain committees.
The bill makes conforming changes and makes application of the changes in law made by this bill prospective.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.