Issue 8: April 2, 2007

That Was Then …

Not a Licking

The House passed its version of the 2008-09 budget, CSHB 1 early Friday morning, 129-14. Although members considered more than 250 amendments over almost 18 hours, few dealing with higher education were offered, much less adopted.

Rep. Craig Eiland (Galveston) tried to add $10 million more for indigent care at UTMB. The source of the money would have been the State Highway Fund and the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) budget. Rep. Garnet Coleman (Houston) also targeted the TRCC as a source for $7 million in additional TEXAS Grant funding. Both attempts failed.

Rep. Roberto Alonzo (Dallas) did get two programs put on the “wish list” for UT Arlington: $13 million in start-up and operational funds for the Sustainable Water Supply Research Center and $120,000 for the Tejano Voices Project. Items on the list, officially Article 11, may be funded if money becomes available.

Still Ticking

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) unanimously adopted workgroup recommendations on pending items for general academic institutions, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and community colleges. Article 3 items are funded as shown below, but not those on the “wish list” (Art. 11).

Article 3

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

• Student Financial Aid Programs (a UT System priority) -- $30 million increase, including:

o TEXAS Grants -- $10 million

o B-On-Time Student Loan Program -- $10 million

o College Work-Study -- $5 million

o Texas Educational Opportunity Grants -- $5 million

• Two-year institution enrollment growth -- $2 million

• Centers for Teacher Education -- $2.3 million

• New community college campuses -- $6.3 million (plus the same additional amount in Art. 11)

• College Readiness Initiative -- $2.2 million (plus the same additional amount in Art. 11)

General Academic Institutions (GAIs)

• $500,000 to UT Austin for administration of the statewide Texas Forensic Science Commission

• $715,200 to Texas Woman’s University for the Online Nursing Education Program

Community Colleges (CCs)

• $100,680 reduction to adjust Applied Technology formula funding to match the GAIs

• $50,000 for Dallas Community College’s Energy Efficiency Green Building Program

• Proportionality does not apply.

Riders (special instructions)

• Adds new rider that would reduce FY 2009 formula funding for those community college districts receiving hold-harmless funds for two or more consecutive biennia. Reduced funds may be used to supplement appropriations for two-year enrollment growth at rapidly growing schools.

• Updates the amounts for small business development centers to match the Comptroller’s revenue certification, including increasing the amount for UT San Antonio to almost $3.6 million per year (of which $150,000/year goes to Texas A&M International by agreement).

• Adds new rider requiring that higher education agencies and institutions conduct a performance review of any general revenue (GR)-funded program initiated by the 79th or 80th legislatures and report to the Legislature in January of the fourth fiscal year of the program’s existence.

Article 11

THECB

• Advanced Research Program -- $8.3 million

• Joint Admission Medical Program (a UT System priority) -- $1 million

• Alternative Teacher Certification Program -- $1.6 million

• College Readiness Initiative -- $2.2 million

• New community college campus funding -- $6.3 million

• Public and higher education funding formula study -- $1 million

• Texas chiropractic colleges -- $500,000

GAIs

• University of North Texas – Dallas (UNTD) law school debt service -- $5.6 million

• Lonestar Education and Research Network (LEARN, a UT System priority) -- $7.95 million

• Texas National Guard members student financial aid -- $5 million

• Incentive funding (similar to Gov. Perry’s proposal) -- $126 million ($85 million GAIs; $41 million CCs)

Senators noted that GAIs would receive about 14 percent more funding in fiscal 2008-09 (base bill plus SFC decisions) than in the current budget. That prompted Sen. Tommy Williams (The Woodlands) to criticize as “unreasonable” proposed tuition increases at Texas A&M University – College Station. “No matter how much we give them, it’s never enough,” Williams said, decrying the financial burden of college costs on Texas families.

Watch SFC GAI hearing [beg. tape 26:00]

 

On Wednesday, the SFC adopted the workgroup recommendations for the health-related institutions (HRIs) and the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). Sen. Robert Duncan (Lubbock) estimated that the HRIs overall would receive a 9.5 percent average increase in GR. Among the HRI spending decisions made were:

 

Article 3

• Graduate medical education (GME) formula funding increased by 3.8 percent, consistent with the increases in the other formulas.

• Medical student formula weight increased from 1.0 to 4.5, yielding an additional $34 million (adopted previously).

• A new graduate nursing weight of 1.252 yielding about $3 million for the biennium for all HRIs (which would be ineligible for the current small class supplement); no weight adjustments for biomedical sciences or health informatics.

• Approval of MD Anderson’s new formula − but no new money − tied to growth in the number of cancer patients (unlike the House version, which ties the formula to total Texas patients served); no similar mission-specific formula for UTHC Tyler or UTMB.

• $12.8 million for the Hepatitis B vaccine program through the correctional managed health care program at UTMB and Texas Tech.

• The County Indigent Care Contracts rider in the Higher Education Special Provisions is restored to the current appropriations act rider language. (The proposed language conflicted with federal law.)

No action was taken on general revenue (GR) funding for the Cancer Registry (which may lead to an effort to use tobacco settlement funds not otherwise spoken for).

 

Article 11

Put in the still-pending Art. 11 wish list were:
• $1.5 million in FY 2009 for UTHC Tyler transition to joint degree programs (Exceptional Item No. 3, School of Health Related Sciences).

• A new rider for UTMB and UTHC Tyler to receive $13.68 million in federal matching funds under the Disproportionate Share Hospital Program ($12 million UTMB; $1.68 million Tyler), money which now goes to GR.

• A new incentives rider to create more residency positions by providing $3 million in formula funding through the THECB for new positions over and above the historic five-year average (potentially problematic because of a mandated link to federal funds draw-down).

Other University Systems
• Larger medical school classes at TAMU - College Station and Temple (but nowhere else) -- $10 million (Art. 3, plus an additional $10 million in Art. 11).

• Texas Tech UHSC El Paso medical school -- $43 million (no contingency, unlike LBB recommendations).

Teacher Retirement System
• State retirement contribution at 6.6 percent -- $107 million “wish-listed” (rate needed to maintain actuarial soundness; 6.7 percent in CSHB 1 Art. 3, the estimated rate when adopted; base bill rate is 6.4 percent).

Watch SFC HRI hearing [beg. tape 26:45]

 

Friday was “Rider Day,” and the SFC also considered all remaining pending items.

Among the additional appropriations approved:
• UNTD System Center -- $2 million

• Tarleton State University for the Texas A&M University – Central Texas (Killeen) System Center -- $10 million

• TAMU – Kingsville for TAMU – San Antonio System Center -- $10 million

• TAMU – International for Faculty Enhancement -- $2 million

• UTHSC San Antonio for Laredo Campus Extension institutional development -- $3 million

• UT MD Anderson Cancer Center for the creation of the rare and aggressive breast cancer research program -- $4 million

• New rider allowing the Health and Human Services Commission to contract with the Texas Cord Blood Bank for up to $5 million and with UTMDACC for up to $2 million, out of appropriated funds

Savings totaling $261 million also were adopted Friday, including:
• $200 million reduction (GR-related) in full-time equivalent positions, apparently excluding higher ed.

• $10 million reduction (GR-appropriated) in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional managed health care program for repairs at UTMB (to be replaced with general obligation bonds)

View summary of savings and new appropriations

SFC Chair Steve Ogden (Bryan) said Friday that the base bill is closed, leaving only Art. 11 pending. The SFC is expected to finalize the wish list today and report out CSSB 1 later this week, although the exact day of the vote has not been announced.

And Another Thing …

Early Friday morning the House also passed 144-0 the supplemental appropriations bill. CSHB 15 by Chisum added $13.1 million in GR to reimburse UTMB for business interruption losses suffered due to Hurricane Rita. Reps. Eiland and Larry Taylor (Friendswood) cooperated to pass Eiland’s amendment.

Fiscal Nuts and Budget Bolts

The budget-writing committees’ regular meeting times and places, clerks and phone numbers are:

House Appropriations – 8 a.m. daily (usually, and upon House adjournment as needed) 1.030 (HAC Hearing Room, Capitol Extension 1st floor) Cristina Self, 463-1091

Senate Finance – 9 a.m. daily (usually, and upon Senate adjournment as needed) E1.036 (SFC Hearing Room, Capitol Extension 1st floor) Amy Jeter, 463-0370

From session to session, the two houses alternate writing the initial version of the appropriations bill. The starting point this session is HB 1, but both the SFC and HAC, or the SFC workgroups and HAC subcommittees, have met almost daily. Once both the Senate and the House have approved spending plans, the legislative leadership will appoint a 10-member conference committee to reconcile differences in the two proposed budgets. Conferee workgroups will formulate recommendations to the committee, which will present a compromise bill to each house for approval.

Higher Ed Highlights

The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday voted out:
• CSSB 141 (Nelson) requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in consultation with the administrative heads of the agencies belonging to the Health Professions Council, to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate institutions of higher education providing courses in which students enrolled in different health science or health profession education programs may enroll in basic health science curricula together.

The THECB must complete the study by September 30, 2008, and report its recommendations to the governing board of each institution of higher education that offers health science or health profession education programs; the governor; and the Legislature. The recommendations are to address the feasibility of providing those joint health science courses; which courses should be offered; which institutions of higher education or types of institutions should offer the courses; and any other relevant issues.

The committee substitute requires the THECB to consult with representatives of private or independent institutions of higher education when conducting the study. It also clarifies that the substitute applies to courses provided by private as well as public institutions.

• CSSB 276 (Wentworth) modifying the student regent selection process. The committee substitute changes the dates for soliciting applicants for student regent and changes the dates of the student regent's term. The student government is required to solicit applicants by November 1 (as opposed to September 1) and send them to the chancellor by January 1 (as opposed to November 1). The chancellor is required to send the system's recommendations to the governor by February 1 (as opposed to December 1). The governor is required to appoint the student regent on June 1, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for a term expiring May 31 (as opposed to February 1). The term of a student regent serving on the effective date of the bill is extended to May 31, 2008.

The substitute also requires the student regent to be in good academic standing as determined by the institution at the time of appointment and throughout the term, and to remain enrolled at the institution. The student regent must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and make satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the president of the institution, towards a degree in the student regent's degree program. The president may grant an exemption from these requirements for good cause, and shall notify the governor if the student regent fails to maintain the qualifications without good cause. If the governor receives such a notice, the governor shall declare the position of student regent vacant and shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term in consultation with the chancellor.

The substitute also provides that the student regent serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending board meetings, subject to approval of the chairman.

Last Wednesday, the committee voted out SB 285 by Shapiro authorizing transportation and other service fees on students at UT Dallas; SB 612 by Lucio authorizing a student athletics fee primarily to support soccer at UT Brownsville; and SB 523 by Seliger authorizing a student services building fee at UT Permian Basin. The bills may require technical corrections on the Senate floor.

On Monday, the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee decided to put conflict of interest guidelines into law for higher ed governing boards regarding scholarships to family members. The panel approved SB 1325 by West, which would prohibit a student from receiving a scholarship originating from and administered by a higher education institution or university system if the student is closely related to a current member of the institution’s or system’s governing board. The exceptions are for athletic and exclusively prior academic merit scholarships; those granted by private organizations or third parties not affiliated with the institution or system; or if the relationship is not within the third degree by consanguinity or the second degree by affinity.

John Courage of San Antonio, a former community college trustee, said some board members use their positions to obtain scholarships for relatives. He did not elaborate, except to point out that there is nothing in statute restricting such special privileges, which he termed a conflict of interest. He said scholarships should be earned, not awarded due to familial relationships.

The subcommittee also approved requirements for the statewide five-year master plan for higher education currently being developed by the THECB. SB 1234 by Zaffirini calls for a re-examination of the purposes, needs, and goals of higher education; consideration of methods for defining the roles and missions of institutions of higher education in a way that is consistent with the state's needs and goals; consideration of more effective methods for funding higher education; consideration of methods for establishing a coherent long-term student financial aid strategy that takes into account both student financial need and student achievement; recommendations for strengthening collaboration between two-year and four-year institutions of higher education; and recommendations for developing and reinforcing long-term collaboration between and among primary, secondary, and post-secondary educational institutions.

Sen. Royce West (Dallas) said he would like to add locating new institutions to the plan’s provisions. THECB Commissioner Raymund Paredes testified that the state needs a systematic resource allocation method and a better means of deciding institutions’ roles and missions. He indicated that doing so would help expedite timely graduation.

The subcommittee also approved SB 1233 by Zaffirini authorizing higher education institutions to charge a general property deposit to cover losses, damages, or breakage for which the student is responsible and any other amounts owed by the student. The institutions must return the deposit, less any amounts owed, within a reasonable time period but not later than 180 days after withdrawal or graduation.

The subcommittee recommended that the Education Committee place all three bills on the Local and Uncontested Calendar.

Last Tuesday, the subcommittee voted out CSSB 1232 by Zaffirini authorizing regents to establish a payment plan for tuition and fees; an electronic agreement under the payment plan instead of a written promissory note; a 3 percent origination fee or 5 percent interest, as determined by the board of regents; and clarifying that a student is not entitled to an emergency loan equal to the full amount of tuition and fees.

The House Higher Education Committee heard a proposal last Monday to create a new "assault leave" entitlement for most state university and junior college employees. HB 841 by Raymond requires junior college districts and public university systems to grant paid leave to an employee who is physically assaulted while performing regular duties. During the leave, the employee is entitled to the regular rate of pay, less any workers’ compensation insurance benefits received. The bill is similar to SB 51 by Zaffirini, which was reported favorably last week by the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee and is pending in the Education Committee.

Both bills exclude medical and dental schools. Rep. Richard Raymond (Laredo) said he did so to lower the bill’s cost because those entities are more likely to have such incidents. A Texas Faculty Association spokesman acknowledged the great potential for campus assaults overall, but noted that threats of violence are much more common.

The bills were prompted by Minerva Ybarra, the Laredo Community College counseling director who was stabbed by a student in her office in 2006. She wrote that she also suffered financially because she declined to use sick leave and vacation time to recuperate.

“I can’t believe (the college) didn’t take care of her,” remarked Rep. Fred Brown (College Station). “That’s not very Christian.”

HB 841 would require systems and institutions to modify leave policies to include assault leave and develop processes for determining whether an employee was assaulted. Because the employee could be entitled to up to two years’ off work, the institution would have to determine how to accomplish the employee’s job functions during the absence. The fiscal impact should be minimal, however, due to the rarity of such attacks and the workers' comp offset.

HB 2198 (Flores) would expand bachelor’s degree programs at public community and junior colleges. Currently, three public junior colleges are participating in a pilot project to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of such programs. The first of more than 350 degrees will be conferred this spring under the project.

HB 2198 would direct the THECB to authorize up to four baccalaureate degree programs each at Brazosport College, Midland College, and South Texas College, which are granting the Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree through the pilot program. An additional public junior college could offer bachelor’s degrees if the THECB determines that to be in the state’s best interest.

HB 2336 (Bonnen) would allow the THECB to authorize an undetermined number of baccalaureate degree programs at the same three colleges. The bill would also direct the THECB to work with school representatives to study the feasibility and benefits of increasing the number of public community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees.

The bill would direct the THECB to establish a review process for those community college districts seeking to set up new baccalaureate degree programs. This is designed to prevent “cherry-picking” of the most desirable degrees, a THECB spokesman said, adding that competing schools would have to negotiate program development.

There was a rather lively discussion of HB 1185 (Morrison) allowing higher ed institutions to sell facilities to real estate investment trusts (REITs). Chair Geanie Morrison (Victoria) said this permission would help address deferred maintenance and construction needs funded with tuition revenue bonds.

Fred Blanton criticized the bill as “a slap in the face” to voters who recently rejected bond issues for the North Harris Montgomery Community College District. He argued that selling buildings already paid for would be a bad deal that would increase the financial burdens on students and taxpayers. Blanton also expressed concern about a lack of control over who else would use the buildings during off hours.

Rey Garcia, president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, noted that REITs’ up-front payments would free other funds, suppressing local tax rates. Morrison responded that such lease-backs would save schools money because the REITs manage the facilities. She pointed out that no additional public debt would be incurred.

The bill would require lease terms of at least 20 years. Facilities would be used by the institutions for educational purposes during mandatory class hours, but could be used for other purposes as determined by the REIT during non-class hours. A management contract for a facility would have to be for the same term as the lease-back arrangement.

All four bills were left pending.

Miscellany

 

High-tech Two-fer

Two UT System institutions are capitalizing on the state’s incentive funding program for high technology commercialization.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is to receive a $3.5 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) grant to recruit the new head of its Institute for Cyber Security Research, according to Gallery Watch.

Dr. Ravi Sandhu, a nationally recognized leader in cyber security, will become the institute’s founding executive director and chief scientist on June 1, 2007. Gov. Rick Perry announced the award last week.

"While UTSA has already achieved significant accomplishments in the field of cyber security research, the addition of Dr. Sandhu will further Texas' ambitions to be a major competitor in the global technology marketplace," Perry said.

UTSA was the first university in Texas designated as a National Security Agency Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security by the federal government. For more than five years, UTSA has worked to build a multidimensional program to meet and overcome attacks against the United States' critical cyber infrastructure.

Dr. Sandhu’s team of researchers will partner with public and private cyber security organizations in the region to establish an innovative research organization. Cyber security is, and will continue to be, a growing field of national concern and economic growth.

"With the tremendous support of Gov. Perry and the Emerging Technology Fund, UTSA will be able to expand critical research in cyber security and build a multidimensional institute to meet the challenges that face our country's technology infrastructure," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo.

On Friday, Perry announced a $600,000 award to an Austin firm that will be collaborating with UT Austin.

Quantum Logic Devices was chosen to commercialize its patented nanoelectronic platforms, which allow hospitals, clinics, physicians and consumers to perform simple medical tests to immediately identify possible illnesses.

The company anticipates working closely with UT Austin and the Advanced Technology Development Facility for further development of this prototype.

Grants awarded through TETF, a $200 million initiative created by the Legislature in 2005 at the governor's request, support efforts to recruit, and provide tools for, world-class researchers and professionals in specific industries to Texas. To date, the TETF has allocated $74 million in grant funds to Texas companies and universities to promote public-private research collaboration; matching research grants; and attracting top academic research terms.

A 17-member advisory committee of high-tech leaders, entrepreneurs and research experts reviews potential TETF projects and recommends funding for projects to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.

Some Rise, Sunset

The Sunset Advisory Commission has released its Summary of Sunset Recommendations (March 2007) for 20 agencies under review. Included are recommendations on several higher ed-related programs and entities. Click on the links below to access the summaries by program/entity name:

Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board
Board of Nurse Examiners
TDCJ – Correctional Managed Health Care Committee
Teacher Retirement System
Office of Rural Community Affairs

 

…This Is Now

 

If It’s Monday, It’s Higher Ed

Committee hearings today on higher education bills include:

House Higher Education
• HB 2173 by B. Cook is the sunset bill for the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board that implements the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission. The bill may facilitate the board's ability to reopen the prepaid tuition plan. If so, for contracts entered into after December 31, 2003, UT System institutions would be entitled to receive the amount of tuition and required fees that they charge rather than the weighted average amount. The weighted average requirement would still apply to senior college contracts the board sold from 1996 to 2003.

• HB 1419 by Kolkhorst requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to maintain a registry including each institution of higher education named after an established historical figure of this state, as determined by the THECB in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission. The governing board of an institution of higher education listed on the registry may not remove the name of the figure from the institution’s name. This could affect M.D. Anderson Cancer Center if it is included on the registry.

View hearing agenda ll Watch hearing live

Senate Higher Education Subcommittee
• SB 1045 by Wentworth amends the Open Records Act to provide that a performance evaluation of the commissioner of higher education or of the chief executive officer of "an academic institution of higher education," including a university system, is confidential and excepted from the statutory requirement that it be available to the public. The bill does not appear to apply to evaluations of the presidents of medical institutions.

• SB 1052 by Zaffirini relates to tuition credits for students who complete the core curriculum at two-year public institutions of higher education and then enroll at general academic teaching institutions. It requires the THECB to establish a program under which an eligible student is entitled to receive credit against a portion of tuition charged by a general academic teaching institution for each term of two years of upper-division study at that institution.

View hearing agenda ll Watch hearing live

 

St. Elsewhere

Committee hearings today on other bills of interest include:

Senate State Affairs
• SB 1306 by Wentworth amends provisions in the Government Code related to the Open Meetings Act. Under the bill, the term “meeting” does not include a gathering of a quorum of a governmental body at a ceremonial event or press conference, if formal action is not taken or discussion of public business is incidental to those gatherings.

• SB 1846 by Duncan aims to ensure the actuarial soundness of the Teacher Retirement System by permitting member contributions to be increased to 6.6 percent of compensation in the General Appropriations Act. In any year in which the employee contributions are raised, the employer contribution from appropriated funds increases to an equal amount. UT System, the institutions, and their employees would realize a financial impact because it proposes increasing the employee contribution and the employer contribution, in addition to introducing a new employer payment for certain new members.

View hearing agenda ll Watch hearing live

House State Affairs
Numerous abortion bills are set including HB 1750 by Morrison. It increases reporting requirements related to abortions and abortion complications by physicians, facilities and the Department of Health and Human Services, both in frequency and content. Included are information on insurance, complications, informed consent waivers for minors, and assessment for domestic abuse. Delays in reporting are punishable by fine and, potentially, sanctions for civil contempt. Failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor.

View hearing agenda ll Watch hearing live

House Government Reform Committee
HB 3454 by Callegari would set requirements for contracts that certain governmental entities enter into with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to administer prescription drug plans or programs on behalf of the entities.

View hearing agenda ll Watch hearing live

 

Your Hit Parade

House calendars have been posted for today and Tuesday. Bills of interest scheduled on Tuesday include:

• HB 109 (Turner) - eligibility for and the administration of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

• HB 1392 (Turner) – employee leave for parents of special education students

• HB 2252 (Taylor)- disclosure of information about health care-related services or access to health care information provided by benefit plans

• HB 1594 by Zerwas – expedited credentialing for physicians providing services under a managed care plan

• HB 1104 (Paxton) - the duration of judgment liens in favor of the state

The Senate has posted its Intent calendar and today’s Regular Order of Business, notably SJR 3 by Duncan, requiring two-thirds majorities to pass eminent domain bills

Session Snapshot

Week	13
Days Remaining	57
Bills/Joint Resolutions Filed*	6,191
Bills/Joint Resolutions Passed**
>House	150
>Senate	195
Bills Enacted*	7
Legislation Tracked	1,859
High Priority Bills	367

*Incl. SCR 20 (const. spending limit)
**By each house

The bill filing deadline was March 9, the 60th day of the session (we’re almost caught up now). To file a bill now requires a four-fifths vote of the members present in either house, and some bills have been introduced this way. Legislative deadlines and other important dates may be found at Key Legislative Dates.

House Committees’ permanent meeting schedules

Senate Committees’ permanent meeting schedules

Duly Noted

In presenting HB 2597 to a quite complimentary House Higher Education Committee last Monday, on behalf of Rep. Mark Homer (Paris), its author, Rep. Jim McReynolds (Lufkin), said, “I’m doing the best I can. I’ve got snuff in my mouth and I’ve got to go to Corrections (Committee).”

80th Legislature

Information Resources

Legislative Update Home (archive of past issues)

This Week

Monday
8:00 - House Higher Ed
9:00 - Senate Finance
10:00 - Senate Higher Ed Sub(or Finance Adj.)
10:30 - House Govt. reform
(or FA*)
1:30 - Senate reconvenesSenate Govt. Org (or FA)
2:00 - House reconvenes
House State Affairs (or FA)

Tuesday
9:00 Senate Health/Human Svcs

Wednesday
9:00 House State Affairs (or FA)

Thursday
9:00 Senate Finance
Senate not in session

Friday
House and Senate not in session

*final adjournment

Up and Coming

April 9 - House and Senate not is session

On the Horizon

May 12 Constitutional amendment election on school property tax relief for elderly and disabled homeowners

May 28   Sine die!

Legislative Deadlines Calendar

Beyond the Dome

April 2 – State of TomorrowTM higher ed documentary series begins statewide on PBS TV

 

Helpful Resources

State Finance

Legislative Budget Board

Debt Affordability Study

Federal Funds Watch (2/12/07)

Contracts Reported by State Agencies, Higher Education Institutions in FY06

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Tuition Revenue Bonds Report, Fall 2006

Speeding Down a Dead End Street: The Looming Crisis in Texas Financial Aid. Sen. Rodney Ellis (Houston)

2008-09 State Budget

Legislative Budget Board
Summary of Budget Policy and Recommendations

Recommendations for the 80th Legislature (proposed budget)

Legislative Budget Estimates

Financing Higher Education in Texas: Legislative Primer

House Research
Organization
Writing the State Budget: 80th Legislature  

Senate Research Center
Guide to the Budget Process

 

2007 Legislative Session

House Research Organization
Legislative Staff Directory

Topics for the 80th Legislature

How a Bill Becomes Law: 80th Legislature

House Committee Procedures: 80th Legislature

Senate Research Center
Issues Facing the 80th Legislature: A Briefing Report

Legislative Lexicon

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