06 LC 25
4488S
The
Senate Finance Committee offered the following substitute to HR
1081:
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Higher Education Finance and Formula Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Department of
Technical and Adult Education provide valuable services to the State of Georgia
by providing education and training necessary to enhance job skills;
and
WHEREAS,
a strong system of higher education enhances
Georgiás
economy; and
WHEREAS,
a number of issues and concerns related to the financing of the Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia have been raised during the 2005 and 2006
regular sessions of the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia receives a majority of
its funding through a funding formula adopted in 1982 with no comprehensive
review or update in the 23 years since; and
WHEREAS,
the funding formula adopted for the Department of Technical and Adult Education
in 2001 was modeled on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
formula and may also need comprehensive review and updating; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Department of
Technical and Adult Education have been impacted by fluctuations in the economy
and resulting reductions in funding; and
WHEREAS,
a number of individuals have expressed an interest in including a
performance-based component within the financing methodology for both the Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical
and Adult Education to better link resources provided to outcomes;
and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Department of
Technical and Adult Education comprise a significant portion of state bond
financing in any given fiscal year; and
WHEREAS,
many of these issues and concerns warrant further study during the interim
between the 2006 and 2008 regular sessions of the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS,
the issues should be studied jointly by the Governor, House, Senate, the Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Department of Technical
and Adult Education to ensure all parties reach a suitable agreement for the
future direction and financing of the two higher education
entities.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Higher Education Finance and Formula Study Committee to be
composed of three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; three members to be appointed by the Senate Committee on
Assignments; three members to be appointed by the Governor; one member to be
appointed by the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia; and one member
to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Technical and Adult
Education. The chairperson shall be elected by the appointed members. The
committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. As a minimum the committee shall:
(1)
Conduct a review of the current financing of the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult Education
to include an examination of budgeted revenues and expenditures;
(2)
Recommend revisions to the current funding formula used in calculating funding
needs for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia;
(3)
Recommend revisions to the current funding formula used in calculating funding
needs for the Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(4)
Evaluate alternatives for a performance-based funding component for potential
use as a component of the financing methodology for both the Board of Regents of
the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult
Education;
(5)
Establish models demonstrating the state-wide effects of proposed
recommendations;
(6)
Review capital outlay projections and prioritization methodology for the Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical
and Adult Education; and
(7)
Develop, as needed, a prioritized implementation schedule for any proposed
changes in financing for the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee may conduct such meetings at such places
and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to
exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish
the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the
committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of
the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The other members of the committee shall
serve without compensation. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of
this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of
Representatives and the Senate. The expenses and allowances authorized by this
resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than
ten days unless additional days are authorized.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee is directed to make a report of its
findings and recommendations not later than the convening of the 2008 regular
session, at which time the committee shall be dissolved.