Proportionality Bill
Here’s a quick update on HB 2083 — the proportionality bill:
The Calendars Committee is working feverishly to move legislation, so we are hopeful that this item will go to the full House next week. Two more members of the Dallas delegation signed on as co-authors this week. [See details about HB 2083, including the current list of co-authors]
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Community College Conference
On Wednesday, the Texas Workforce Commission held a conference with community college leaders from around the state. This event highlighted the important role of community colleges in the Texas economy. Gov. Rick Perry was the keynote speaker, and he stated that community colleges are increasingly vital to both the communities they anchor and the state as a whole in this current economy. [Get additional details about Gov. Perry’s remarks]
DCCCD was well represented at this conference, including participants from our colleges and the District Office. Dr. Paul McCarthy and Pyeper Wilkins from El Centro College were among the presenters. [See details about their remarks in this Dallas Business Journal story].
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Budget
Members of the Conference Committee have not yet been appointed. We expect them to be named at any time, and then the process to finalize the budget can begin.
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Higher Education Committees
Earlier this week, the Senate Higher Education Committee voted favorably for the community college purchasing bill, SB 857 by Sen. Royce West, to move out of committee. It has been placed on the Local and Uncontested Calendar, so we expect it to be heard by the full Senate shortly.
One bill of particular interest that the Committee considered this week is SB 1312 by Sen. Florence Shapiro.
SB 1312 would create the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant Program, which targets career and technology education programs in three areas: expanding existing career and technology programs, especially those that are successful related to completion and retention rates; expanding new career and technology programs which focus on Texas' most critical needs; and providing scholarships for community and technical college students as an incentive to prepare for the most critical technology fields.
The grant also would create a pilot program at community colleges which would target adult basic education students who need developmental education and dropout recovery assistance. [Additional details about SB 1312]
On Wednesday, the House Higher Education Committee added various bills to its calendar, including some items related to developmental education and textbook costs. Among the bills of interest to DCCCD are:
- HB 3791 – which would attempt to create a developmental education plan for students who are entering public institutions of higher education.
- HB 3447 – which calls for a study of community college student success rates in developmental education coursework.
- HB 3283 – which seeks to make textbooks more affordable.
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Legislation Tracking
For additional details about some of the bills that DCCCD is tracking, visit our Legislation Tracking Web site.
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