MINUTES
SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON FUNDING ISSUES IN EDUCATION
Wednesday, April 8, 1998
8:30 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on
Funding Issues in Education was held on Wednesday, April 8,
1998 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator David Sibley
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
[Co-Chairmen Bivins and Ratliff decided that Senator Ratliff
would Chair this hearing. Hereinafter "Chair" refers to
Senator Ratliff, or to whomever he has handed the gavel.]
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Gregory Luna
Senator Royce West
The Chair called on the following witnesses to testify before
the committee on the committee charges and agenda topics
indicated:
Charge #3 - Management, Investment and Distribution of the
Permanent School Fund, Available School Fund, Permanent
University Fund, Available University Fund and Higher
Education Fund
Management and Investment of the Permanent University
Fund
William H. Cunningham, representing The University
of Texas System, provided oral and written
testimony.
Thomas Ricks, representing The University of Texas
Investment Management Company, provided oral
testimony.
Available University Fund and Permanent University Fund Bond
Proceeds
William H. Cunningham, representing The University
of Texas System, provided oral and written testimony
Tom Scott, representing The University of Texas
System, provided oral testimony.
Barry B. Thompson, representing Texas A&M University
System, provided oral testimony.
Richard Lindsay, representing Texas A&M University
System, provided oral testimony.
Higher Education Fund Formula and Allocation Process
Don W. Brown, representing the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, provided oral and
written testimony.
Roger W. Elliott, representing the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, provided oral
testimony.
Capital Allocation Comparison
Deborah Beck, representing the Legislative Budget
Board provided oral testimony.
Dean Murray, representing the Permanent School Fund,
provided oral testimony.
Distribution of the Available School Fund
Ursula Parks, representing the Legislative Budget
Board, provided oral testimony.
Charge #5 - Allocation of Funds for Special Items, Medical
Schools and Texas A&M Service Agencies
Special Item Review
Nancy Frank, representing the Senate Finance
Committee, provided oral testimony.
Formulas for Health Science Centers
Tom Scott, representing The University of Texas
System, provided oral testimony on behalf of the
Health Science Center Funding Working Group.
Overview of Formula Funding for Texas A&M Service and
Research Agencies
Eric Wright, representing the Senate Finance
Committee, provided oral testimony.
Stanton C. Calvert, representing the Texas A&M
University System, provided oral testimony.
Infrastructure Formula
Roger W. Elliott, representing the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, provided oral
testimony.
Research Formula
Stanton C. Calvert, representing the Texas A&M
University System, provided oral testimony.
James G. Butler, representing Texas A&M University
System, provided oral testimony.
Charge #1 - Status of Student Financial Aid and Tuition
Exemption/Waiver Programs
Recommended Changes to Student Financial Aid Policies,
Including Consolidation of Programs, Report on Tuition
Exemption/Waiver Statutes, and Cost of Scholarships to
Students Completing the Recommended High School Program
Don W. Brown, representing the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, provided oral
testimony and a written report.
Sharon Cobb, representing the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, provided oral testimony.
Charge #6 - Costs of Textbooks and Use of Computers and Other
Technological Resources as Alternatives to Textbooks
Costs of Textbooks and Electronic Textbook Pilot Program
Ann Smisko, representing the Texas Education Agency,
provided oral testimony.
Robert Leos, representing the Texas Education
Agency, provided oral testimony.
Other Business
Recommendations of Formula Advisory Committee Regarding
University Funding Formulas
Don W. Brown, representing the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board provided oral
testimony.
Closing remarks were given by the Chair and committee members.
There being no further business, at 1:45 p.m. Senator Bivins
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk