07 LC 25
4848
House
Resolution 426
By:
Representatives Smith of the
113th,
Hembree of the
67th,
Cheokas of the
134th,
Harbin of the
118th,
Floyd of the
147th,
and others
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 Georgia´s 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 recent 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, 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 2007 and 2008 regular sessions of the General Assembly.
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 and three members to be appointed by the President of the
Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member
and the President of the Senate shall designate a member to serve as
co-chairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the
co-chairpersons.
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)
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
(6)
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 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
five 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 December 1, 2007, at which time the
committee shall be dissolved.