This Week in Austin …
This week was filled with committee hearings now that appointments have been made and members are organized. Bills will begin to move rapidly (or die) as the committee process progresses.
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Senate Finance
Now that the Senate Finance Committee has held hearings on the base budget bill, members began discussions this week about bills that were referred to them. On Monday, the committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 22 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini; SB 22 would create sales tax exemptions on textbooks for limited periods of time. A number of student leaders testified on the bill’s behalf, while several municipal leaders testified against it. [See the full text of SB 22]
Next week, the full committee will discuss Article III Workgroup funding proposals, including proportionality — an issue that will have a strong impact on DCCCD. If the full committee leaves proportionality in the base bill, then the proportionality bill — SB 41 — becomes even more critical. Speaking of proportionality…
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Proportionality Legislation
Late last week, Rep. Burt Solomons filed HB 2038, which is the companion bill to SB 41 that deals with proportionality once and for all. Although proportionality is a complex issue, the legislation to address it is short but sweet. [See the full text of HB 2038]
Proportionality rapidly is becoming the key issue for community colleges. Addressing this issue during the current legislative session is critical because proportionality could cost DCCCD millions of dollars for years to come.
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Senate Higher Education Committee
This week, the Senate Higher Education Committee began hearings on bills that were referred to them. On Wednesday, the committee reviewed several bills, including SB 65 by Committee Chair Judith Zaffirini. This legislation would extend to higher education employees the same rights as school district employees who are victims of physical assault – providing them with paid leave as they recover from their injuries. [See the full text of SB 65]
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House Higher Education Committee
On Wednesday, the House Higher Education Committee heard a series of eight bills that would create several new institutions, including a pharmacy school and a law school in Dallas, plus a health science center and a law school in the Rio Grande Valley. Conversations about each of these proposals will continue in the coming weeks.
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House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
The subcommittee meets daily at 8 a.m. On Monday and Tuesday, the group completed its public hearings on broader issues within Article III – the education section of the budget. On Wednesday, they began “formal meetings” during which they hear only from Legislative Budget Board staff members. In these formal meetings, the subcommittee moves through the bill pattern and makes decisions about funding issues. This process will continue over the next two to three weeks as the group considers Article III.
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