AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Texas will celebrate 200 years of independence in the year 2036.  Interested parties note that Texas has one of the largest economies in the world, as well as one of the fastest growing populations in the country.  With additional population growth expected, and with the state's long-term master education plan coming to an end, the parties contend that Texas must identify and recommend a new plan to produce the educated workforce necessary to compete in a global economy. 

 

H.B. 2036 amends current law relating to the creation of a commission to identify future higher education and workforce needs of this state and make related recommendations to address those needs by the state's bicentennial.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas 2036 Commission in SECTION 1 (Sections 490F.005 and 490F.006, Government Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, by adding Chapter 490F, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 490F.  TEXAS 2036 COMMISSION

 

Sec. 490F.001.  DEFINITION.  Defines "commission" in this chapter.

 

Sec. 490F.002.  CREATION OF COMMISSION; COMPOSITION.  (a) Creates the Texas 2036 Commission (commission).

 

(b) Provides that the commission is composed of the following members:

 

(1) the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education;

 

(2) the commissioner of higher education;

 

(3) the chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB);

 

(4) the chair of the Texas Workforce Commission;

 

(5) the chair of a governing board of an institution of higher education appointed by the governor;

 

(6) a trustee of a public junior college district appointed by the governor;

 

(7) two persons possessing experience in the field of higher education appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

 

(8) two persons appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom must possess experience in the field of higher education.

 

(c) Provides that appointed members of the commission serve for two years and are authorized to be reappointed.

 

(d) Requires that appointments to the commission be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.

 

(e) Requires that a vacancy in an appointed office of the commission be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

 

Sec. 490F.003.  OFFICERS.  Requires the commission to elect one of its members to serve as chair for a term of two years.  Entitles the chair to vote on all matters before the commission.

 

Sec. 490F.004.  COMPENSATION.  Provides that a member of the commission serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a member of the commission, subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by the General Appropriations Act.

 

Sec. 490F.005.  MEETINGS.  Requires the commission to meet at the call of the chair and as provided by commission rule.

 

Sec. 490F.006.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.  (a) Authorizes the commission to adopt rules as necessary for its procedures.

 

(b) Requires the commission, with an emphasis on the changing demographics of this state, to:

 

(1) assess and identify future higher education and workforce needs in the state and the state's ability to meet those needs; and

 

(2) develop recommendations for meeting those needs by the state's bicentennial in 2036, including recommendations for achieving the following goals by that date:

 

(A) attaining a state workforce in which at least 60 percent of its workers hold a postsecondary credential, certificate, or degree of value in the workplace;

 

(B) increasing by at least three the number of institutions of higher education designated as research institutions under THECB's accountability system;

 

(C) ensuring the alignment of workforce development with higher education in this state;

 

(D) increasing the college-attending population in this state to a level that is comparable to the best performing states on that measure;

 

(E) improving the affordability of higher education in this state while maintaining excellence; and

 

(F) ensuring the global competitiveness of the state workforce.

 

Sec. 490F.007.  REPORTS.  Requires the commission, not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, to report to the legislature its assessment of the state's ability to meet the future higher education and workforce needs of this state and its recommendations for meeting those needs, including by achieving the goals prescribed by Section 490F.006(b)(2).

 

Sec. 490F.008.  EXPIRATION.  Provides that this chapter expires and the commission is abolished January 1, 2037.

 

SECTION 2.  Requires the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives to make the appointments required by Section 490F.002, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2013.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.