October 22, 2009

Higher Education Necessary To Ensure Success of Texas

Members,

Today, some Legislative Study Group members from the Houston area met at the Houston Community College Coleman College for Health Sciences for a press conference on higher education.

As you know, in May 2008 the LSG put out a report calling for an expansion of slots of excellence at Texas colleges and universities -- specifically calling for the creation of additional tier one universities. This session the Legislature passed HB 51 and HJR 14, which would set in place a mechanism through which emerging research universities can compete for funds to eventually become tier one universities.

Texas currently has only two public universities classified as tier one institutions even though it has the second highest population in the nation. States like California and New York have many more tier-one public universities.

At today's press conference, Rep. Scott Hochberg, LSG board member and chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, spoke of a pool of $500 million worth of higher education dollars that is currently locked away. Voter approval of Proposition 4 on the November ballot is the key to releasing those funds and allowing universities to draw down matching funds, allowing them to work on becoming top tier research universities.

LSG board member Rep. Hubert Vo is an alumnus of the University of Houston - one of the universities that will be able to more quickly attain tier one status with this legislation. At today's press conference, Rep. Vo spoke of the great economic impact that voter approval of Proposition 4 will have. He mentioned that the state's additional investment in institutions of higher education would not only greatly expand the possibilities for students, resulting in a better educated populace, but would help the state maintain a competitive economic edge in technology and human capital in the 21st century.

LSG Chair Rep. Coleman spoke on the value of higher education, and the bridge that often links high school students and four year universities: community colleges. Ensuring a seamless transition for students from community colleges is vital, as well as properly funding these institutions and providing them with the resources they need to succeed. New and innovative programs like the Early College High School program are doing wonders and helping high school students begin their college careers on firm ground. This is the subject of LSG's latest report.

To view the LSG's report on Higher Education, click here. To view LSG's analysis and recommendation on Proposition 4, click here.

If we can provide your office with any additionally information on this or any other public policy topic, please do not hesitate to contact LSG Director Joe Madden at Joe@TexasLSG.org or 512-463-0524.

July 2, 2009

LSG Floor Report - July 2, 2009

The floor reports for HB 1 and HB 2 are now available for download by clicking HERE. (.PDF)

June 23, 2009

Legislative Study Group Reception

June 1, 2009

LSG Update on Legislation Regarding CHIP

The LSG Update on legislation regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program is available for download by clicking HERE. (.PDF)

May 28, 2009

LSG Floor Report for SB1

The floor report for SB1 is now available for download by clicking HERE. (.PDF)

May 28, 2009

LSG Floor Report and Policy Primer for HCR 50

The floor report and policy primer for HCR 50 is now available for download by clicking HERE. (.PDF)

May 26, 2009

LSG Floor report for Tuesday May 26, 2009

The report for the Tuesday May 26, 2009 is now available for download. (.PDF)
The BA&Es cover the following House Bills:

SB 1569 By Sen. Eltife/ et al. SP: Strama/ Deshotel/ Harless
SB 469 By Sens. Carona/ et al. SP: Flores / Pena / Oliveira / Corte / Smith, W
SB 555 By Sen. Duncan SP: Eiland
SB 2222 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Corte
SB 921 By Sen. Fraser SP: Rose/ Solomons/ Swinford
SB 1529 By Sen. Whitmire SP:Gallego
SB 66 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Shelton/ Hartnett/ Alonzo/ et al.
SB 18 By Sens. Estes/ et al. SP: Bonnen/ Pitts/ Kuempel/ Geren/ Homer
SB 1877 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Zerwas/ Coleman/ McCall/ Parker/ Rose/ et al.

To view this floor report, click here. (.PDF)

May 25, 2009

LSG Floor report for Monday May 25, 2009

The report for the Monday May 25, 2009 is now available for download. (.PDF)
The BA&Es cover the following House Bills:

SB 175 By Sen. Shapiro/ et al. SP: Branch
SB 1569 By Sen. Eltife/ et al. SP: Strama/ Deshotel/ Harless
SB 469 By Sens. Carona/ et al. SP: Flores / Pena / Oliveira / Corte / Smith, W
SB 555 By Sen. Duncan SP: Eiland
SB 2222 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Corte
SB 921 By Sen. Fraser SP: Rose/ Solomons/ Swinford
SB 1529 By Sen. Whitmire SP:Gallego
SB 66 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Shelton/ Hartnett/ Alonzo/ et al.
SB 18 By Sens. Estes/ et al. SP: Bonnen/ Pitts/ Kuempel/ Geren/ Homer
SB 1877 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Zerwas/ Coleman/ McCall/ Parker/ Rose/ et al

To view this floor report, click here. (.PDF)

May 22, 2009

LSG Floor report for Friday May 22, 2009

LSG Policy Alert For Members: Voter Photo Identification
You may find the LSG background primer online here. (.PDF)

The report for the Friday May 22, 2009 is now available for download. (.PDF)
The BA&Es cover the following House Bills:

SB 175 By Sen. Shapiro/ et al. SP: Branch
SB 1569 By Sen. Eltife/ et al. SP: Strama/ Deshotel/ Harless
SB 469 By Sens. Carona/ et al. SP: Flores / Pena / Oliveira / Corte / Smith, W
SB 555 By Sen. Duncan SP: Eiland
SB 2222 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Corte
SB 921 By Sen. Fraser SP: Rose/ Solomons/ Swinford
SB 1529 By Sen. Whitmire SP: Gallego
SB 66 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Shelton/ Hartnett/ Alonzo/ et al.
SB 18 By Sens. Estes/ et al. SP: Bonnen/ Pitts/ Kuempel/ Geren/ Homer
SB 1877 By Sens. Nelson/ et al. SP: Zerwas/ Coleman/ McCall/ Parker/ Rose/ et al.
SJR 11 By Sen. West SP: Thompson
SJR 52 By Sens. Davis, Wendy SP: Truitt
SJR 9 By Sens. Carona/ et al. SP: Pickett
SJR 50 By Sen. Averitt SP: Ritter
SB 1850 By Sen. Shapleigh/ et al. SP: Naishtat
SB 1111 By Sen. Duncan SP: Legler
SB 1864 By Sen. Ellis SP: Hochberg
SB 1173 By Sen. Seliger SP: Fletcher
SB 1106 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Hopson
SB 1501 By West SP: Patrick
SB 1976 By Sen. Whitmire/ et al. SP: Gallego
SB 1773 By Sen. Fraser SP: Elkins
SB 2105 By Sen. Uresti/ et al. SP: Gallego
SB 1954 By Sen. Jackson, Mike SP: Legler/ Anchia/Smith, W/ et al.
SB 1815 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Deshotel
SB 1958 By Sen. Van de Putte/ et al. SP: Corte
SB 2121 By Sen. West SP: England
SB 2481 By Sen. Hegar SP: Darby
SB 2284 By Sen. Lucio SP: Lucio III
SB 517 By Sen. Harris SP: Jackson, Jim
SB 493 By Sen. Nelson/ et al. SP: Rose
SB 713 By Sen. Carona/ et al. SP: Sheffield
SB 783 By Sens. Shapiro SP: Morrison
SB 1383 By Sen. Carona SP: Smith, Wayne
SB 684 By Sen. Lucio Sp: Gonzalez Toureilles
SB 947 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Chavez
SB 1775 By Sen. Whitmire Sp: Kuempel
SB 1500 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Coleman
SB 188 By Sens. Duell | Van de Putte Sp: Coleman |McClendon | Ortiz, Jr. | Zerwas | King, Susan
SB 1411 By Sen. West Sp: Dukes |Coleman |Turner, Sylvester
SB 2111 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Hardcastle
SB 117 By Sen. Ellis Sp: Gallego
SB 116 By Sen. Ellis Sp: Farrar
SB 843 By Sen. Uresti Sp: Castro | Martinez Fischer | Lucio III | Bolton | Leibowitz
SB 1647 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Flynn | Ritter
SB 475 By Sen. Wentworth Sp: Oliveira | Hilderbran |Hughes | Bohac | Taylor
SB 257 By Sen. Estes Sp: Anderson
SB 1779 By Sen. Hinojosa Sp: Martinez
SB 500 By Sen. Shapiro Sp: Solomons
SB 519 By Sen. Harris Sp: Dunnam
SB 538 By Sen. Estes Sp: Homer
SB 1900 By Sen. Seliger Sp: Leibowitz| Howard, D.
SB 1713 By Sen. Heger Sp: Elkins
SB 1544 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Pitts
SB 1335 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Smithee
SB 1083 By Sen. Huffman Sp: Gonzales
SB 2110 By Sen. West Sp: Branch
SB 2270 By Sen. Gallegos Sp: Olivo
SB 855 By Sen. Carona Sp: Truitt
SB 2319 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Ritter
SB 33 By Sen. Zaffirini Sp: Farias
SB 71 By Sen. Nelson Sp: Rose
SB 81 By Sen. Nelson et al. Sp: Hernandez
SB 89 By Sen. Van de Putte Sp: Thompson
SB 201 By Sen. Shapleigh et al. Sp: Chavez
SB 747 By Sen. Carona Sp: Deshotel
SB 786 By Sen. Nelson et al. Sp: Rose
SB 867 By Sen. Lucio Sp: Patrick
SB 1124 By Sen. West Sp: Davis, John
SB 1129 By Sen. Nichols Sp: King, Susan
SB 1217 By Sen. Shapiro et al. Sp: Guillen
SB 1240 By Sens. Van de Putte/ Shapleigh et al. Sp: Rose
SB 1245 By Sen. Carona Sp: Driver
SB 1255 By Sen. Shapiro Sp: Hochberg
SB 1296 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Driver
SB 1398 By Sen. West Sp: Anchia
SB 1477 By Sen. Uresti et al. Sp: Naishtat/ Menendez
SB 1516 By Sen. Watson Sp: Bolton
SB 1542 By Sen. Uresti Sp: Truitt
SB 1710 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Heflin
SB 1766 By Sen. Watson Sp: Rose
SB 1828 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Chisum
SB 1916 By Sen. West Sp: Hodge
SB 2007 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Zerwas
SB 2045 By Sen. Williams Sp: Deshotel
SB 2015 By Sen. Watson Sp: Rodriguez
SB 2474 By Sen. Watson Sp: Bolton

To view this floor report, click here. (.PDF)

May 21, 2009

LSG Floor report for Thursday May 21, 2009

The report for the Thursday May 21, 2009 is now available for download. (.PDF)
The BA&Es cover the following House Bills:

SB 1569 By Sen. Eltife/ et al. SP: Strama/ Deshotel/ Harless
SB 175 By Sen. Shapiro/ et al. SP: Branch
SB 469 By Sens. Carona/ et al. SP: Flores / Pena / Oliveira / Corte / Smith, W
SB 555 By Sen. Duncan SP: Eiland
SB 2222 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Corte
SB 921 By Sen. Fraser SP: Rose/ Solomons/ Swinford
SB 1529 By Sen. Whitmire SP:Gallego
SJR 11 By Sen. West SP: Thompson
SB 1850 By Sen. Shapleigh/ et al. SP: Naishtat
SB 1111 By Sen. Duncan SP: Legler
SB 1864 By Sen. Ellis SP: Hochberg
SB 1173 By Sen. Seliger SP: Fletcher
SB 1106 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Hopson
SB 1501 By West SP: Patrick
SB 1976 By Sen. Whitmire/ et al. SP: Gallego
SB 1773 By Sen. Fraser SP: Elkins
SB 2105 By Sen. Uresti/ et al. SP: Gallego
SB 1954 By Sen. Jackson, Mike SP: Legler/ Anchia/Smith, W/ et al.
SB 1815 By Sen. Van de Putte SP: Deshotel
SB 1958 By Sen. Van de Putte/ et al. SP: Corte
SB 2121 By Sen. West SP: England
SB 2481 By Sen. Hegar SP: Darby
SB 2284 By Sen. Lucio SP: Lucio III
SB 517 By Sen. Harris SP: Jackson, Jim
SB 493 By Sen. Nelson/ et al. SP: Rose
SB 713 By Sen. Carona/ et al. SP: Sheffield
SB 783 By Sens. Shapiro SP: Morrison
SB 1383 By Sen. Carona SP: Smith, Wayne
SB 684 By Sen. Lucio Sp: Gonzalez Toureilles
SB 947 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Chavez
SB 1775 By Sen. Whitmire Sp: Kuempel
SB 1500 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Coleman
SB 188 By Sens. Duell | Van de Putte Sp: Coleman |McClendon | Ortiz, Jr. | Zerwas | King, Susan
SB 1411 By Sen. West Sp: Dukes |Coleman |Turner, Sylvester
SB 2111 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Hardcastle
SB 117 By Sen. Ellis Sp: Gallego
SB 116 By Sen. Ellis Sp: Farrar
SB 843 By Sen. Uresti Sp: Castro | Martinez Fischer | Lucio III | Bolton | Leibowitz
SB 1647 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Flynn | Ritter
SB 475 By Sen. Wentworth Sp: Oliveira | Hilderbran |Hughes | Bohac | Taylor
SB 257 By Sen. Estes Sp: Anderson
SB 1779 By Sen. Hinojosa Sp: Martinez
SB 500 By Sen. Shapiro Sp: Solomons
SB 519 By Sen. Harris Sp: Dunnam
SB 538 By Sen. Estes Sp: Homer
SB 1900 By Sen. Seliger Sp: Leibowitz| Howard, D.
SB 1713 By Sen. Heger Sp: Elkins
SB 1544 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Pitts
SB 1335 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Smithee
SB 1083 By Sen. Huffman Sp: Gonzales
SB 2110 By Sen. West Sp: Branch
SB 2270 By Sen. Gallegos Sp: Olivo
SB 855 By Sen. Carona Sp: Truitt
SB 2319 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Ritter
SB 33 By Sen. Zaffirini Sp: Farias
SB 71 By Sen. Nelson Sp: Rose
SB 81 By Sen. Nelson et al. Sp: Hernandez
SB 89 By Sen. Van de Putte Sp: Thompson
SB 201 By Sen. Shapleigh et al. Sp: Chavez
SB 747 By Sen. Carona Sp: Deshotel
SB 786 By Sen. Nelson et al. Sp: Rose
SB 867 By Sen. Lucio Sp: Patrick
SB 1124 By Sen. West Sp: Davis, John
SB 1129 By Sen. Nichols Sp: King, Susan
SB 1217 By Sen. Shapiro et al. Sp: Guillen
SB 1240 By Sens. Van de Putte/ Shapleigh et al. Sp: Rose
SB 1245 By Sen. Carona Sp: Driver
SB 1255 By Sen. Shapiro Sp: Hochberg
SB 1296 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Driver
SB 1398 By Sen. West Sp: Anchia
SB 1477 By Sen. Uresti et al. Sp: Naishtat/ Menendez
SB 1516 By Sen. Watson Sp: Bolton
SB 1542 By Sen. Uresti Sp: Truitt
SB 1710 By Sen. Duncan Sp: Heflin
SB 1766 By Sen. Watson Sp: Rose
SB 1828 By Sen. Averitt Sp: Chisum
SB 1916 By Sen. West Sp: Hodge
SB 2007 By Sen. Hegar Sp: Zerwas
SB 2045 By Sen. Williams Sp: Deshotel
SB 2015 By Sen. Watson Sp: Rodriguez
SB 2474 By Sen. Watson Sp: Bolton


To view this floor report, click here. (.PDF)