Number

Name

Code

Description

HB 323

CUELLAR

BD

Would require the UT Board of Regents, not later than 1-1-2002, to establish a Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at The University of Texas at Brownsville.

SB 71

HAYWOOD

BD

Would clarify that a member of the Board of Regents of Midwestern State University serves without compensation, but can receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while carrying out regental duties, subject to reimbursement limits in the General Appropriations Act.

SB 72

HAYWOOD

BD

Would eliminate the words "chairman" and "vice-chairman" from the statutory language on the Board of Regents of Texas Woman’s University and replace those words with "presiding officer" and "assistant presiding officer."

SB 73

HAYWOOD

BD

Would add statutory language on grounds for removal of a member of the Midwestern State University Board of Regents (malfeasance, inability to discharge duties due to illness or disability, absence from meetings).

SB 74

HAYWOOD

BD

Would delete some out-of-date language related to the terms of members of the advisory board of the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas.

SB 75

HAYWOOD

BD

Would authority the Board of Regents of the University of North Texas System to establish and operate in any Texas county a facility, program, or campus extension of the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.

SB 76

HAYWOOD

BD

Would add new statutory language clarifying that the chairperson of the Midwestern State University Board of Regents could convene a meeting of the Board when considered appropriate. Also changes the word "chairman" to "chairperson."

SB 77

HAYWOOD

BD

Would add statutory language on grounds for removal of a member of the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents (malfeasance, inability to discharge duties due to illness or disability, absence from meetings).

HB 35

MCCLENDON

BD

Would place fewer restrictions on conducting a Board meeting by videoconference call.

SB 131

WENTWORTH

BD

Would change from seven to five the required days a notice must be posted prior to a meeting covered by the open meetings law.

HB 120

WEST

BD

Would authorize the Board of Regents of the UT System to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Approval by the students for initiation and increase of the fee is required. The fee could not exceed $5 per SCH in the first academic year it is imposed.

SB 82

MADLA

COMM

Would change the statutory language on agreements that must be signed when a public junior college offers courses for joint high school and junior college credit. Also adds language clarifying that a student in a private or parochial school, including a home school, must be given the same consideration for admission to or enrollment in joint credit classes as other high school students.

SB 93

NELSON

DL

Would require the development of a uniform definition of telemedicine, allow the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to establish a health care professional recruitment program, and change or add definitions related to providing telemedicine services.

SJR 1

MADLA

F

Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow a public school teacher or higher education faculty member to serve as a member of the Legislature. The person serving would have to choose the legislative salary or the salary from the educational entity, but could not receive both.

HB 29

MCCLENDON

F

Would increase the multiplier used in the Teacher Retirement System’s formula for determining retirement benefits from 2.2% to 2.25%. All current annuities would be recomputed using the new multiplier. Companion Bill: SB 29.

SB 29

ZAFFIRINI

F

Would increase the multiplier used in the Teacher Retirement System’s formula for determining retirement benefits from 2.2% to 2.25%. All current annuities would be recomputed using the new multiplier. Companion Bill: HB 29.

HB 55

CUELLAR

F/S

Would allow employees who are parents, guardians or custodial grandparents to take unpaid time of up to one hour each calendar month to participate in certain school and child-care facility activities.

HB 76

GARCIA

F/S

Would require all employers of over 50 persons to give eligible employees a total of 12 workweeks of family or medical leave during any 12-month period. The leave could be unpaid. The employee would be entitled to return to the same or a comparable position .  the legislation also proposes that employers of 10 or more persons allow employees who are parents, guardians, or custodial grandparents of children through grade 12 to take unpaid time off of up to one hour per month to participate in certain school activities.

HB 215

LONGORIA

F/S

Would amend the Labor Code to state that an employer could not discharge an employee who had been continuously employed by that employer for at least 10 years, in any capacity, except for cause.

SB 126

MADLA

MED

(HB 246) Would create a Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program under the umbrella of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to assist medically underserved communities in recruiting health professionals by establishing loan reimbursement and stipend programs for those agreeing to serve in those areas.  A six-member advisory panel to assist in the establishment of the program would include a representative of the Coordinating Board and a representation from the health-related institutions.  The Coordinating Board would work with the Center and the advisory panel to ensure that the maximum amount of funding is sought from all sources to support the loan reimbursement and stipend programs.

HB 289

MAXEY

MED

Would establish the Telemedical Consultation Advisory Committee under the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to perform certain duties related to telemedicine. Representatives of the health science centers would be on the committee.

HB 246

TURNER, B

MED

(SB 126) Would create a Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program under the umbrella of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to assist medically underserved communities in recruiting health professionals by establishing loan reimbursement and stipend programs for those agreeing to serve in those areas.  A six-member advisory panel to assist in the establishment of the program would include a representative of the Coordinating Board and a representation from the health-related institutions.  The Coordinating Board would work with the Center and the advisory panel to ensure that the maximum amount of funding is sought from all sources to support the loan reimbursement and stipend programs.

HB 266

ELLIS

MISC

Would allow the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to transfer property in Walker County to the Texas State University System for use by Sam Houston State University.

HJR 18

TURNER, B

MISC

Would amend the Texas Constitution to allow House of Representative members to serve four years. A related bill, HB 181, would spell out how the House would be organized if four-year terms became a reality.

HJR 22

WILSON

MISC

Would abolish the state’s sovereign immunity to suit, allowing the Legislature by general law to address specific types of claims. Includes temporary provision on applicability of claims existing before the constitutional amendment related to the Texas A&M University bonfire.

HB 62

WOLENS

MISC

Would allow a district judge to try a civil case at an institution of higher education in the county in which the case is filed.

SB 31

ZAFFIRINI

MISC

Would require the Coordinating Board to prescribe procedures by which institutions of higher education would provide information on bacterial meningitis to new students.

HB 112

CUELLAR

ST

Would make the recommended or advanced high school program established by the Texas Education Agency the default curriculum required for high school graduation, effective for students entering the ninth grade in Fall 2002. The bill would also require a graduating student not qualifying for admission under the Top 10% or Top 25% admission policies and not having completed the recommended or advanced high school program to earn at least 30 hours credit at a junior college before being admitted to a general academic teaching institution.  This part of the legislation would affect students enrolling in higher education in the Fall 2006.

HB 82

GALLEGO

ST

Would provide an exemption from sales and use taxes for the first $5,000 in receipts realized through the sale of certain taxable items by qualified student organizations affiliated with institutions of higher education.

HB 158

GARCIA

ST

Would add statutory language clarifying that a graduate of a Texas high school is a Texas resident until the individual establishes residence outside the state. The legislation would also add language to provide aliens with the same privilege of qualifying for resident status for tuition and fee purposes as U.S. citizens without regard to the immigration status of the individual and give aliens equal access to financial aid.

HB 47

MCCLENDON

ST

Would add new statutory language on the automatic admission of undergraduate transfer students who have a degree or certificate from a public junior college or public technical institute in a program requiring at least 30 semester credit hours, have maintained a GPA of at least 3.0, and have met normal application deadlines.  Universities would be allowed to determine the readiness of the applicant and require summer enrollment if it is felt that it is appropriate.

SB 158

TRUAN

ST

Would require elementary, middle/junior high, and high school counselors to advise students and parents about the importance of higher education, the advantages of taking college-preparatory coursework, and financial aid availability.

HB 140

WISE

ST

Would require institutions to establish a program to reimburse students receiving a tuition exemption as a veteran for the cost of required textbooks and similar required course materials. The proposal states that the Coordinating Board would include funding for this program in its funding formulas.

HB 104

GUTIERREZ

SYS

Would allow The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to use revenue bonds, including tuition revenue bonds, for enhancement of The Texas A&M University System’s South Texas Center for Rural Public Health in McAllen. A cap of $4.5 million is included in the legislation.

HB 105

GUTIERREZ

SYS

Would allow The University of Texas System Board of Regents to use revenue bonds, including tuition revenue bonds, for a UT-Pan American instructional facility in Starr County. The aggregate principal amount could not exceed $10 million.

HB 42

MCCLENDON

SYS

Would authorize The Texas A&M University System to conduct a study on the feasibility of entering into an affiliation or coordinating agreement with any institution of higher education to provide the necessary clinical education to support a doctor of medicine program at Prairie View A&M University.

HB 234

HAWLEY

TEST

Would exempt members of the armed forces from taking the TASP test before enrolling in a Texas institution.

HB 125

WEST

TEST

Would abolish the Texas Academic Skills Program. If passed, the act would apply to the Fall 2001 semester.

HB 152

BROWN, F

TUIT

Would set the tuition charge for a summer term or session the greater of $60 or $20 per semester credit hour (half the current $40 charge). If passed, the bill would become effective with the Spring 2002 semester.

HB 51

CUELLAR

TUIT

Would allow institutions to exempt children of public school professional instructional employees and librarians with ten or more years of experience from tuition and children of public school professional instructional employees and librarians with 15 or more years of experience from tuition and all required fees.

HB 324

CUELLAR

TUIT

Would exempt from state sales tax textbooks required for courses and brought by full- or part-time students.

HB 172

LEWIS, G

TUIT

Would allow governing boards to exempt a peace officer enrolled in a criminal justice degree or certificate program from tuition and fees.

HB 253

LONGORIA

TUIT

Would provide an exemption from tuition and fees, plus require an institution to pay for housing and textbooks, for eligible surviving spouses or minor children of certain law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS personnel killed in the line of duty.  Benefits would cover up to 200 hours of course credit or a bachelor's degree.

SB 40

ZAFFIRINI

TUIT

Would require the Coordinating Board to establish and administer a new tuition assistance program for vocational nursing students who agree to practice in long-term care facilities in the state.

Key

Terms

BD

Boards of Regents

COMM

Community Colleges

DL

Distance Learning

F

Faculty-Related

F/S

Faculty/Staff Related

MED

Medical

MISC

Miscellaneous

ST

Student Issues

SYS

Systems

TEST

Test

TUIT

Tuition and Fees