Bill > S1436

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Under this bill, the commission would examine and report on the structure of public higher education and recommend ways to improve financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of the public institutions of higher education in the State. The commission would consist of 12 members. The members would include: the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee, serving ex officio; the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee, serving ex officio; two members appointed by the Governor, including the president of a State college or university, or a designee, and the president of a public research university, or a designee; the following four members appointed by legislative leadership including: the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate President; the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; a member representing a public-sector higher education labor union, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a full time faculty member employed by a public institution of higher education, appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one member with expertise, knowledge, or experience in the fiscal management of institutions of higher education, appointed by the Governor; one student representative from a public research university; one student representative from the State colleges or universities; and one student representative from the county colleges. The student representatives would be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Higher Education through an application process. The purpose of this commission is to bring together management of public institutions of higher education, students, faculty, staff, and union leadership to make recommendations on higher education, with a special emphasis on financial transparency, accountability, and oversight. The commission is responsible for examining issues related to the financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of public institutions of higher education. The commission would meet a minimum of three times. This bill requires the commission to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the commission's recommendations to improve the structure of higher education in the State. The commission would issue the report to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days after the commission organizes. The commission, and its enabling legislation, would expire 30 days after the issuance of its report to the Governor and the Legislature.

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Committee Categories

Joe Cryan (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document