Sec. 54.0515.  LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION.  (a)  In this section, "committee" means the legislative oversight committee on higher education.
(b)  The legislative oversight committee on higher education is composed of 12 members as follows:
(1)  six members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor;  and
(2)  six members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c)  The lieutenant governor shall designate one of the committee members appointed by the lieutenant governor as committee co-chair and the speaker shall designate one of the committee members appointed by the speaker as committee co-chair.
(d)  An appointed member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the appointing official.  In making appointments to the committee, the appointing officials shall attempt to appoint persons who represent the gender composition, minority populations, and geographic regions of the state.
(e)  It is the legislature's intent that each institution of higher education, as a condition to tuition deregulation under Section 54.0513, reasonably implement the following:
(1)  each institution shall make satisfactory progress towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education;  and
(2)  each institution shall meet acceptable performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates, retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial aid, and affordability.
(f)  The committee shall:
(1)  meet at the call of either chair;
(2)  monitor and regularly report to the legislature on each institution of higher education's compliance with the requirements of Subsection (e);  and
(3)  receive and review information concerning the affordability and accessibility of higher education, including the impact of tuition deregulation.
(g)  The committee may request reports and other information from institutions of higher education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as necessary to carry out this section.
(h)  The committee shall make recommendations for any legislative action the committee considers necessary to meet the criteria provided by Subsection (e), and such other criteria as the legislature may establish, and to improve higher education affordability and access.
(i)  This section does not create a cause of action.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1321, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.