MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair	Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 22, 2018; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out and made opening remarks on the following charge:

Mandate Reduction: Examine all current state and federal regulations on public higher education institutions and consider whether reductions of regulations could reduce fees, produce efficiencies and greater student academic performance. Make recommendations to reduce certain regulations for increased flexibility to provide better student outcomes.

The chair then called invited testimony (see attached witness list).

The chair laid out the following charge:

Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Higher Education Committee and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation. Specifically, receive updates on construction of facilities as a result of tuition revenue bonds authorized during the 84th Legislative Session, as well as the development and implementation of the Texas OnCourse program, authorized during the 84th Legislative Session and monitor the following:

• SB 2118 (85th) relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs.
• HB 2205 (84th) relating to the State Board for Educator Certification, educator preparation programs, educator certification, issuance of certain teaching permits, and certain procedures for investigating educator misconduct.
• SB 887 (85th) relating to a requirement that certain participating institutions under the student loan program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provide loan debt information to certain students.
• SB 802 (85th) relating to a study and report regarding best practices in the transfer of course credit between public institutions of higher education.
• SB 810 (85th) relating to open educational resources.
• HB 2223 (85th) relating to developmental coursework offered by public institutions of higher education under the Texas Success Initiative.

The chair then called invited testimony (see attached witness list).

The chair then opened public testimony (see attached witness list).

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 11:56 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

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Daniel Warner, Clerk