BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2465

By: Seliger

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute was established at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 1995 to provide leadership, ethics, and public service training to students throughout Texas. Each summer, selected high school student leaders travel to the Permian Basin campus to attend the Shepperd Scholars Summit and to Austin to attend an annual statewide leadership forum. To date, over 33,000 young people have completed the training at the institute. A recent audit, however, conducted by the comptroller of public accounts found that statutory permission is needed for the institute to use state funds to pay for student travel.     

S.B. 2465 authorizes funds appropriated for the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin to be used to pay for costs associated with the institute's educational programs for public secondary and university-level students.

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

S.B. 2465 amends the Government Code to authorize funds appropriated for the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin to be used to pay for costs associated with the institute's educational programs for public secondary and university-level students, including registration fees, ground or air transportation, lodging, meals, training costs, and related expenses.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.