Appropriations
 The Conference Committee has been meeting throughout the week. Late last night, members announced their funding decisions for higher education. We currently are analyzing the information to determine its impact on DCCCD, but the results appear to be good in some areas and less helpful in others.
The committee added $134.3 million to the community college formula. Additional funding was included for financial aid programs, including a $5 million increase for Texas Educational Opportunity Grants. The employer contribution rate for both the Texas Retirement System (TRS) and Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) was raised from 6 percent to 6.58 percent.
A small increase for nursing enrollment growth was funded, but the cap on the dollars available to community colleges remains unchanged. The committee did add $33 million to community colleges for group health insurance.
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Committee Meetings
 This week was a busy period for committee meetings as legislators tried to move remaining bills through the process. The Senate held higher education-related committee meetings every day; in fact, they have one planned for this weekend.
On Monday, the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee considered a number of bills related to financial aid administration. These bills — SB 2047, SB 2048 and SB 2049 — respond to accounts of ethically questionable practices between colleges and the student loan industry. SB 2049 again was considered in subsequent meetings and has the best chance among the three to move forward. [Read SB 2049]
On Tuesday, DCCCD purchasing director Philip Todd testified before the House Higher Education Committee in support of SB 1064, the community college purchasing bill. The bill was supported by the committee and now awaits action by the full House.
Also on Tuesday, the House Higher Education Committee considered SB 114, one of the remaining textbook-related bills. The bill passed out of committee and is waiting for action by the House. DCCCD has worked to obtain approval for this bill and has drafted an amendment that will be considered on the House floor. [Read SB 114]
On Thursday, the Senate passed HB 447, along with a DCCCD-drafted amendment. This bill focuses on contracts by governmental entities and related professional services as well as public works performance and payment bonds. Our amendment ensured that the bill would exclude community colleges. This action allows SB 1064 (if passed) to serve as the guiding principle on these matters. [Read HB 447]
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Legislation
 Many bills died in committee or as a result of procedural maneuvers this week. Some of these now-dead bills would have had a positive impact on DCCCD and others less so.
Bills of interest to DCCCD that are not moving forward this session:
- HB 956 was a comprehensive effort to reduce textbook costs. DCCCD testified on this bill last month, and its author worked with DCCCD staff to improve it. The bill made it out of committee but was never considered by the House.
- HB 116 was a bill that would limit the number of classes students could drop. This bill, too, made it out of committee but never went to the full House.
- SB 1052, which would have provided financial incentives for students who complete core curriculum requirements at community colleges to transfer to four-year institutions, was passed by the Senate but never made it out of committee in the House.
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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