Capital Highlights
Senator proposes increase in state college funding
Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

A USTIN - Higher education continues as a top issue for Texas.

State Sen. Rodney

Ellis, D-Houston, said he wants more state funding to help more kids from low and middle income families get into college.

In an April 8 Houston Chronicle copyright story, Ellis said he wants to double state funding for the Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) grant program to $1 billion. Ellis said if action isn't taken Texas will be in crisis.

The Chronicle reported that about 70,000 students lost their tuition grants in the past two years, and according to U.S. Department of Education statistics, the Lone Star State is 41st in the nation in producing college graduates.

About 158,000 families are enrolled in the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan, formerly called the Texas Tomorrow Fund. Enrollees locked in the cost of tomorrow's college tuition and required fees at "today's prices." Plan benefits are protected by a constitutional guarantee from the state.

The fund debuted under then- Comptroller John Sharp in the booming economy of 1996.

Waco economist Ray Perryman in early April published a 72-page report, "Thinking About Tomorrow, The Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan: An Economic Assessment of Recent Evidence and Options for the Future."

Perryman proposes that the fund can and should be open to new enrollees. His report contrasts with a recent study by the state comptroller that warns the fund, which has been closed to enrollment since June 2003, is headed toward bankruptcy and should not accept additional enrollment.

Perryman says reopening enrollment makes sense when coupled with improved financial markets and a slowdown in tuition hikes. Those elements working together could return the strength to the fund, he said. Measure puts road plan on hold

The Trans Texas Corridor also continues as a major issue as the 80th session of the Texas Legislature inches closer to its late May finale.

Opponents of the proposed road system criticize the state's policy of entering into "comprehensive d e v e l o p m e n t agreements" that transfer the state's traditional role to private entities who build and maintain the roads.

When such deals are made, the public is left out of the loop, opponents say.

The Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee on April 4 approved a measure to halt all comprehensive development agreements for 24 months to allow the state to study the issue further. Child restraint bill passes Senate

Also on April 4, the Senate passed legislation strengthening child passenger safety.

S.B. 60 by Judith Zaffirini, DLaredo, requires that children seven years and younger, unless they are more than 4-feet 10-inches tall, be secured in a child passenger safety seat while riding in a motor vehicle.

Zaffirini said her legislation would save lives, preclude tragedies and injuries and qualify Texas for $3.2 million in federal funds while saving the state $17 million in health care expenditures.

House passes CHIP legislation

The Texas House on April 4 passed H.B. 109, relating to the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The legislation, authored by Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, returns coverage to thousands of families who lost coverage for their children due to cuts enacted by the Legislature in 2003.

Major things the bill would do include:

t Restore continuous 12-month eligibility;

t Eliminate the 90-day enrollment waiting period;

t When calculating family income include child-care expenses;

t Determine eligibility based on net income, not gross; and

t Create outreach programs to inform families about the availability of CHIP and children's Medicaid.

Parties settle Medicaid lawsuit

Parties settled the 1993 Frew v. Hawkins lawsuit, claiming the state of Texas did not provide adequate care for children enrolled in Medicaid.

To benefit from the settlement are some 1.5 million children whose families need help in securing health and dental care.

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association in Austin.