Bill Text: OR HB4061 | 2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to higher education governance; and declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Unknown

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-27 - Chapter 68, (2012 Laws): Effective date March 27, 2012. [HB4061 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2012-HB4061-Engrossed.html

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     76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2012 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 288

                           A-Engrossed

                         House Bill 4061
                 Ordered by the House February 9
           Including House Amendments dated February 9

Introduced and printed pursuant to House Rule 12.00. Presession
  filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Higher
  Education)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.

    { - Establishes Task Force on Higher Education Governance and
Coordination. Directs task force to analyze issues of higher
education coordination and governance and report findings and
recommendations to Governor and Legislative Assembly. - }
   { +  Establishes Special Committee on University Governance.
Directs special committee to analyze higher education governance
and coordination and consolidation of elements of higher
education system with other education programs and missions.
Requires special committee to submit recommendations to Governor
and Legislative Assembly no later than November 1, 2012. + }
  Sunsets task force on date of convening of 2013 regular session
of Legislative Assembly.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to higher education governance; and declaring an
  emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Special Committee on University
Governance is established, consisting of 10 members appointed as
follows:
  (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint four members from
among members of the Senate.
  (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
four members from among members of the House of Representatives.
  (c) The Governor shall appoint two members who are members of
the Oregon Education Investment Board.
  (2) The special committee shall review, discuss and analyze:
  (a) Issues of governance within the higher education system;
and
  (b) Coordination and consolidation among elements of that
system with other education programs and missions. + }  { +
  (3) To promote accountability, administrative streamlining and
the ability to provide the best quality education possible for
the amount of state dollars spent, the Legislative Assembly
recognizes the potential benefit of individual public university
boards. The special committee shall consult with national experts
to examine best practices in models of university governance.
  (4) The special committee shall recommend legislation for the
creation of local governing boards at public universities listed
in ORS 352.002. The plan for implementing local boards shall:
  (a) Provide opportunity for local governance at universities
that request local governance and demonstrate preparation for
local governance responsibility.
  (b) Define the authority that will be granted to local boards
regarding the following specific elements of that authority:
  (A) Hiring, evaluation and dismissal of university presidents;
  (B) Tuition and fees for resident and nonresident students;
  (C) In consultation with the office of the State Treasurer,
financial management, including the issuance of bonds;
  (D) Personnel policies for faculty and staff;
  (E) Achievement compacts with the Oregon Education Investment
Board or the Higher Education Coordinating Commission;
  (F) Acquisition, management and disposal of real, personal and
intangible property;
  (G) Capital projects prioritization and authorization;
  (H) Legal affairs and advocacy with the state;
  (I) Coordination with the State Board of Higher Education or
other systemwide governing body on degree programs, colleges and
schools within each university; and
  (J) Coordination with other universities in the Oregon
University System and the Higher Education Coordinating
Commission to mitigate potential adverse impacts of new academic
programs.
  (c) Define how local boards will be appointed, ensuring that
students, faculty and other university staff will be represented.
  (d) Define a rapid timetable for implementation of local
boards.
  (e) Ensure that the creation of a local board is the result of
a careful analysis of the costs and benefits of such action.
  (f) Mitigate potential adverse impacts upon other public
universities.
  (g) Ensure that the public mission of Oregon's public
universities, including access and affordability for residents of
this state, is maintained and enhanced.
  (5) A majority of the voting members of the special committee
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
  (6) Official action by the special committee requires the
approval of a majority of the voting members of the committee.
  (7) The special committee shall elect three of its members to
serve as cochairs, one from the Senate and two from the House of
Representatives.
  (8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authority shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
  (9) The special committee shall meet at times and places
specified by the call of the cochairs or of a majority of the
voting members of the committee.
  (10) The special committee may adopt rules necessary for the
operation of the committee.
  (11)(a) The special committee shall convene and begin work no
later than April 15, 2012.
  (b) The special committee shall consult with representatives
from the Oregon University System, students, faculty, alumni and
other stakeholders in formulating the committee's
recommendations.
  (c) The special committee shall complete a first draft of its
recommendations and report to an interim committee of the
Legislative Assembly related to higher education no later than
August 15, 2012.
  (d) The special committee shall allow 30 days for public
comment after the first draft of the recommendations is complete.
  (e) After reviewing public comments, the special committee
shall finalize and submit recommendations to the Governor and
Legislative Assembly no later than November 1, 2012.
  (12) The Legislative Administration Committee shall provide
staff support to the special committee.
  (13) Members of the special committee who are not members of
the Legislative Assembly are not entitled to compensation.
  (14) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, are directed to assist the special committee in the
performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws
relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and
advice as the members of the committee consider necessary to
perform their duties.
  (15) The special committee may accept contributions of funds
and assistance from any source, public or private, for the
purposes of the consultation with national experts required by
subsection (3) of this section. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 1 of this 2012 Act is repealed on the
date of the convening of the 2013 regular session of the
Legislative Assembly as specified in ORS 171.010. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2012 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2012 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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