S2516 —

S2516 SHI Statement 06/18/18 SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE   STATEMENT TO   SENATE, No.

2516  STATE OF NEW JERSEY 218th LEGISLATURE   INTRODUCEDDATED: APRIL 16, 2018     Sponsored by:

Senator  JUNE THOMAS18, H.2018        The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No.

KEAN,2516. JR.

District     21This (Morris,bill Somersetestablishes anda Union)New Senator Jersey SANDRAHigher B.Education Funding Formula Commission.  Under the bill, the commission will consist of 11 members including:

CUNNINGHAM District 31 (Hudson)   Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Brown         SYNOPSIS      Establishes “New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission.”   CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.

   An Act establishing the “New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission.”        Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

       1.    There is established a New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission.  The commission shall consist of 11 members including:

the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;

the executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;

five members to be appointed by the Governor including a representative of the State colleges and universities established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, a representative of the public research universities, a representative of the county colleges, a representative of the independent colleges and universities, and one public member;

one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;

and one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly.

       2.    It shall be the duty of the commission to:

     a.     examine higher education funding formulas in other states, including a thorough review of performance-based funding formulas, and identify best practices;

     b.    solicit and review detailed information from all of the State’s institutions of higher education on their funding needs, programs and operations, and outputs;

and       c.     develop a report that includes a higher education funding formula for the State support of institutions of higher education.  The report may include such recommendations for legislative or regulatory action as the commission deems appropriate.

       3.    Appointments to the commission shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act.

 Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

 The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds made available to the commission for its purposes.

     The members of the commission shall hold their initial organizational meeting as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of the members.

     The commission shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

       4.    Staff and related support services shall be provided to the commission by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

 The commission shall also be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

       5.    The commission shall issue a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Governor, the Senate Higher Education Committee, and the Assembly Higher Education Committee no later than six months after its organizational meeting.

       6.    This act shall take effect immediately and the commission shall expire 30 days after the submission of the final report.

    STATEMENT        This bill establishes a New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission.

 Under the bill, the commission will consist of 11 members including:

and            (3) develop a report that includes a higher education funding formula for the State support of institutions of higher education.  The report may include such recommendations for legislative or regulatory action as the commission deems appropriate.

     The bill directs the commission to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Governor, the Senate Higher Education Committee, and the Assembly Higher Education Committee no later than six months after its organizational meeting.  The commission will expire 30 days after the submission of the final report.