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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.022, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The board shall consist of nine members appointed by the |
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governor [so as to provide representation from all areas of the
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state] with the advice and consent of the senate, and as the |
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constitution provides. Members must be appointed as follows: |
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(1) five members representing different geographic |
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regions of the state; |
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(2) one member representing the business and industry |
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community; and |
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(3) three members representing different types of |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(a-1) Members of the board serve staggered six-year terms. |
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The terms of one-third of the members expire August 31 of each |
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odd-numbered year. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 61.051(a) and (a-5), Education Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board represents the highest authority in the state |
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in matters of public higher education and is charged with the duty |
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to take an active part in promoting quality education throughout |
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the state by coordinating the pathway of students through the |
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higher education system of this state by: |
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(1) providing a statewide perspective to ensure the |
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efficient and effective use of higher education resources and to |
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eliminate unnecessary duplication; |
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(2) developing and evaluating progress toward a |
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long-range master plan for higher education and providing analysis |
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and recommendations to link state spending for higher education |
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with the goals of the long-range master plan; |
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(3) collecting and making accessible data on higher |
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education in the state and aggregating and analyzing that data to |
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support policy recommendations; |
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(4) making recommendations to improve the efficiency |
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and effectiveness of transitions, including between high school and |
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postsecondary education, between institutions of higher education |
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for transfer purposes, and between postsecondary education and the |
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workforce; and |
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(5) administering programs and trusteed funds for |
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financial aid and other grants as necessary to achieve the state's |
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long-range goals and as directed by the legislature. |
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(a-5) In conjunction with development of the long-range |
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master plan under Subsection (a-1), the board shall evaluate the |
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role and mission of each institution of higher education [general
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academic teaching institution, other than a public state college,] |
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to ensure that the roles and missions of the institutions |
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collectively contribute to the state's goals identified in the |
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master plan. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.0512(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The board shall review each degree or certificate |
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program offered by an institution of higher education at the time |
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the institution requests to implement a new program to ensure that |
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the program: |
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(1) is needed by the state and the local community and |
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does not unnecessarily duplicate programs offered by other |
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institutions of higher education or private or independent |
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institutions of higher education; |
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(2) has adequate financing from legislative |
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appropriation, funds allocated by the board, or funds from other |
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sources; |
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(3) has necessary faculty and other resources to |
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ensure student success; [and] |
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(4) meets academic standards specified by law or |
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prescribed by board rule, including rules adopted by the board for |
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purposes of this section, or workforce standards established by the |
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Texas Workforce Investment Council; and |
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(5) will positively impact the state's economy and |
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assist in meeting the state's workforce needs. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.059(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) To finance a system of higher education and to secure an |
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equitable distribution of state funds deemed to be available for |
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higher education, the board shall perform the functions described |
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in this section. Funding policies shall: |
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(1) allocate resources efficiently and provide |
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incentives for programs of superior quality and for institutional |
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diversity; |
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(2) provide incentives for supporting the five-year |
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master plan developed and revised under Section 61.051; |
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(3) discourage unnecessary duplication of course |
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offerings between institutions and unnecessary construction on any |
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campus; [and] |
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(4) emphasize an alignment with education goals |
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established by the board; and |
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(5) encourage course offerings that will positively |
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impact the state's economy. |
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SECTION 5. Section 61.0592(d), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) In addition to the funding included under Subsection |
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(c), in the formulas established under Section 61.059, as an |
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incentive for the institutions to reduce tuition rates under |
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Section 54.061, the board may include additional funding that |
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represents a portion of the savings to the state resulting from the |
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institution's efficient use of resources, which may be used to |
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provide grants to students enrolling in courses offered during |
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off-peak hours. |
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SECTION 6. Section 61.07761, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The board may adjust amounts distributed under |
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financial aid allocation methodologies established under this |
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section as necessary to ensure the efficient use of funds in serving |
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the higher education needs of students in this state. |
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SECTION 7. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.022, Education Code, applies beginning with the first |
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appointment made following the effective date of this Act. A member |
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of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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appointment of that member was made, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |