06 LC 97
0727
House
Resolution 1833
By:
Representatives Powell of the
29th
and Smith of the
113th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Study Committee on the Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Independence of
the University System of Georgia, an interim study committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Reorganization Act of 1931 simplified state government and called for the
creation of the board of regents to oversee the University System of Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
the board of regents was organized for the purpose of protecting the university
system from political interference; and
WHEREAS,
the board consists of 18 members, each of whom is appointed by the Governor to
serve seven-year terms; and
WHEREAS,
one member is appointed from each congressional district, in addition to five
members who are appointed from the state at large; and
WHEREAS,
the chancellor is elected by the board as its chief executive; and
WHEREAS,
in the 70 years since the formation of the board of regents, the University
System of Georgia has grown to 35 institutions, as well as the Georgia Public
Library System; and
WHEREAS,
the system's Fiscal Year 2006 budget is $1.8 billion; and
WHEREAS,
the system has over 250,000 enrolled students and more than 38,000 faculty and
staff members; and
WHEREAS,
the policy direction on admissions aims for high academic standards and seeks to
further the welfare of its students and accommodate nontraditional learners,
while creating a partnership with elementary and secondary schools;
and
WHEREAS, the mission statement of the system states that it strives to contribute to the educational, cultural, economic, and social advancement of Georgia by providing excellent undergraduate general education; and
WHEREAS, the mission statement of the system states that it strives to contribute to the educational, cultural, economic, and social advancement of Georgia by providing excellent undergraduate general education; and
WHEREAS,
there have been requests for more diversity in the membership of the board;
and
WHEREAS,
the possible influence of outside forces in the selection of the chancellor has
raised questions regarding the independence of the board of
regents.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created an interim study committee to be called the Joint Study Committee on the
Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Independence of the University System of Georgia.
The committee is to be composed of five members of the House of Representatives
to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and five members
of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments. The
Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall designate a member of the Senate
who shall serve as cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at
the call of the cochairpersons.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the issues
mentioned above and any other issues related thereto and recommend any actions
or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. 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 members of the committee shall receive the allowances
authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall
receive the same for not more than ten days unless additional days are
authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution
shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and
Senate. The committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations
to the General Assembly with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, no
later than December 31, 2006. The committee shall stand abolished on December
31, 2006.