Bill Text: NJ A4812 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-09-19 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A4812 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4812-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CODY D. MILLER
District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established the Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding. The purpose of the task force is to examine the State's system of higher education, including its organization, governance, and funding mechanisms. The task force shall develop recommendations that align with the State's higher education priorities.
b. The task force shall consist of 15 members as follows:
(1) the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee;
(2) two public members appointed by the President of the Senate, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues related to the work of the task force;
(3) two public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force; and
(4) 10 members appointed by the Governor, including: the president of a public research university, or a designee; the president of a State college or university established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, or a designee; the president of a county college, or a designee; the president of an independent college; or a designee; the president of a proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees, or a designee; a representative of the American Association of University Professors; a representative of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals AFT/AFL-CIO; a representative of an alumni association of a four-year public institution of higher education; a student currently enrolled in an institution of higher education; and a student currently enrolled in a proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees.
2. Appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
3. The task force shall organize no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members. The task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
4. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education shall provide such stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force also shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.
5. It shall be the duty of the task force to examine the governance and funding of the State's system of higher education. In conducting its work, the task force shall assess the system's ability to meet the current challenges facing institutions of higher education through:
a. an in-depth examination of the organizational structure of each institution of higher education in the State;
b. an analysis of the role and impact of State oversight and governing board oversight;
c. a review of the federal and State laws and regulations impacting the governance and funding of the State's institutions of higher education;
d. an analysis of the institutions' funding mechanisms and the impact of funding mechanisms on student and institution outcomes; and
e. the identification of best practices in other states in the areas of higher education governance and funding.
6. a. The task force shall issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the task force organizes.
b. The task force shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding. Under the bill, the purpose of the task force is to examine the State's system of higher education, including its governance and funding. The task force is to develop recommendations that align with the State's higher education priorities.
The bill provides that the task force is to consist of 15 members as follows:
(1) the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee;
(2) two public members appointed by the President of the Senate;
(3) two public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and
(4) 10 members appointed by the Governor representing various sectors of higher education.
Under the bill, appointments to the task force are to be made within 30 days of the bill's effective date and the task force is to organize no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members.
The bill provides that the duty of the task force is to examine the governance and funding of the State's system of higher education. In conducting its work, the task force is to assess the system's ability to meet the current challenges facing institutions of higher education through:
· an in-depth examination of the organizational structure of each institution of higher education in the State;
· an analysis of the role and impact of State oversight and governing board oversight;
· a review of the federal and State laws and regulations impacting the governance and funding of the State's institutions of higher education;
· an analysis of the institutions' funding mechanisms and the impact of funding mechanisms on student and institution outcomes; and
· the identification of best practices in other states in the areas of higher education governance and funding.
The task force is to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after the task force organizes.
