81R2476 JSA-D

By: Alonzo H.B. No. 241

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study and report concerning predicted faculty retirement at general academic teaching institutions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.4021 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.4021. STUDY AND REPORT OF PREDICTED FACULTY RETIREMENT. (a) In this section, "general academic teaching institution," "governing board," and "university system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) To address the predicted retirement of a growing portion of university faculty in the coming years and the potential problems associated with that retirement, each general academic teaching institution shall conduct a study relating to faculty member retirements that may occur through the end of the 2025 academic year, including projections of the number and proportion of faculty members expected to retire during that period, the first academic year in which increasing retirements are expected to result in faculty shortages, and methods that the institution could reasonably implement to address those retirement issues through recruitment of new faculty members or other means. The governing board of an institution may appoint a committee to conduct the study. A university system may carry out the requirements prescribed by this subsection for the system's component institutions or may direct one or more component institutions to conduct the study for the system.

(c) Each general academic teaching institution or university system, as applicable, shall prepare a report based on the study required by Subsection (b). The institution or system shall submit the report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board not later than August 1, 2010. The coordinating board shall compile the reports submitted to the board under this subsection and, not later than December 1, 2010, shall submit the compilation to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee or subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over higher education.

(d) This section expires January 1, 2011.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.