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ARCHIVE
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Issue 5
April 13, 2007
Vol. 1
Issue 5
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Issue 4
April 5, 2007
Vol. 1
Issue 4
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Issue 3
March 30, 2007
Vol. 1
Issue 3
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Issue 2
March 23, 2007
Vol. 1
Issue 2
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Issue 1
March 9, 2007
Vol. 2007
Issue 1
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Advocacy
 This week, the following House members were named to the Conference Committee: Rep. Warren Chisum (Pampa); Rep. Dan Gattis (Georgetown); Rep. Ryan Guillen (Rio Grande City), who also is vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (Brenham); and Rep. Sylvester Turner (Houston), Speaker Pro Tempore. Rep. Chisum, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, will co-chair the committee. The Senate appointees should be announced the next week so that the Conference Committee can finalize the budget.
One of the most significant issues that the Conference Committee will address is related to funding for group health insurance. The outcome could result in an additional $2.5 million to $6 million for DCCCD.
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Committee Meetings
On Monday, the House Higher Education Committee considered HB 3443, which would establish the Texas Hospital-Based Nursing Education Partnership Grant Program. This initiative would benefit DCCCD’s nursing programs. Although it was left pending in committee, the bill appears to have enough support to advance. [Read the bill]
HB 3828, which also was heard by the House Higher Education Committee on Monday, is part of Governor Perry’s incentive funding provisions. The bill was left pending in committee. [Read the bill]
Yesterday, the House State Affairs Committee heard several bills related to immigration issues. Many of these bills seek to eliminate the ability of an immigrant student to qualify for in-state tuition at a public institution of higher education; some go further, prohibiting persons not lawfully authorized to be present in the United States from establishing residency for purposes of in-state tuition. Bills heard yesterday include HB 39, HB 104, HB 141, HB 159 and HB 3829. Additional information about each of these bills can be found on our website, in the Education Legislation section.
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Legislation
Several bills that are of particular interest to DCCCD are SB 1064, HB 116, HB 956 and SB 114.
SB 1064, which is related to community college purchasing provisions, was passed by the full Senate on Wednesday. DCCCD staff members have worked on this bill a great deal. The House version, HB 2373, should be heard by the House Higher Education Committee during the last week of April. [More about the bill]
 HB 116 seeks to place limitations on the number of courses that students may drop under certain circumstances at public institutions of higher education. This is a bill that we have been watching for sometime. The bill has been passed out of the House Higher Education Committee and is slated to be heard anytime by the full House. Changes have been made to the bill, but it would still pose challenges for DCCCD. Much work will be done on this bill if it considered by the Senate. [Read the bill]
Two textbook-related bills moved this week. HB 956 is a comprehensive effort to reduce textbook costs. DCCCD testified about this bill last month, and its author has worked with DCCCD staff to improve it. The new, substituted bill could be considered by the House as early as today. SB 114 seeks to decrease textbook costs by requiring colleges to allow competition in the textbook market. This bill poses significant challenges for DCCCD, and we are continuing to work with legislators to improve it. The current bill could be heard by the full Senate at any time; the House companion has not moved from the House Higher Education Committee. Visit the Education Legislation section of our Web site for details.
We continue to track and analyze proposed bills that may affect the Dallas County Community College District. You can see the updated tracking list and bill status on the DCCCD Web site.
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