By: Seliger, et al. S.B. No. 15
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duties and responsibilities of members of governing
  boards of university systems and institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.352, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.352.  (g)  Any appointee who is unconfirmed by the
  Senate is prohibited from voting on any budgetary or personnel
  matter related to system administration or institutions of higher
  education.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.354, Education code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (9) to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.354.  51.354. INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. In
  addition to specific responsibilities imposed by this code or other
  law, each institution of higher education has the general
  responsibility to serve the public and, within the institution's
  role and mission, to:
               (1)  transmit culture through general education;
               (2)  extend knowledge;
               (3)  teach and train students for professions;
               (4)  provide for scientific, engineering, medical, and
  other academic research;
               (5)  protect intellectual exploration and academic
  freedom;
               (6)  strive for intellectual excellence;
               (7)  provide educational opportunity for all who can
  benefit from postsecondary education and training; and
               (8)  provide continuing education opportunities.
               (9)  In addition to the duties described in this
  section, all duties not specifically prescribed by law to governing
  boards or system administration are the responsibilities of
  institutions of higher education.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.084, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The content of the instruction at the training program
  shall focus on the official role and duties of the members of
  governing boards and shall provide training in the areas of
  budgeting, policy development, ethics, and governance. Topics
  covered by the training program may shall include:
               (1)  auditing procedures and recent audits of
  institutions of higher education;
               (2)  the enabling legislation that creates
  institutions of higher education;
               (3)  the role of the governing board at institutions of
  higher education and the relationship between the governing board
  and an institution's administration, faculty and staff, and
  students;
               (4)  the mission statements of institutions of higher
  education;
               (5)  disciplinary and investigative authority of the
  governing board;
               (6)  the requirements of the open meetings law, Chapter
  551, Government Code, and the open records law, Chapter 552,
  Government Code;
               (7)  the requirements of conflict of interest laws and
  other laws relating to public officials;
               (8)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by
  institutions of higher education or the Texas Ethics Commission;
  and
               (9)  any other topic relating to higher education the
  board considers important.
         (e)  In addition to the content of the instruction at a
  training program required under Subsection (d), topics covered by
  the training program for members of a governing board of a public
  junior college district must include information about best
  practices in campus financial management, financial ratio
  analysis, and case studies using financial indicators.
         (f)  The minutes of the last regular meeting held by a
  governing board of a public junior college district during a
  calendar year must reflect whether each member of the governing
  board has completed any training required to be completed by the
  member under this section as of the meeting date.
         (g)  The board shall provide an equivalent training program
  by electronic means in the event a member of a governing board is
  unable to attend the training program required by this section.
  Completion of the training program by electronic means is deemed to
  satisfy the requirements of this section.
         (h)  An appointee who has not received the training required
  under this section is prohibited from voting on any budgetary or
  personnel matter related to system administration or institutions
  of higher education.
         SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
  all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39,
  Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the
  vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect
  September 1, 2013.