Legislative Review. A Look at Higher Education in Week 3: January 19-23, 2009

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from January 19 to 23, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1121, a bill that would provide, among other things, a one-time, 2 percent increase in employer contributions to retiree benefits, was heard in the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, Thursday, January 22; (2) HB 1377, a bill mandating that the Office of Management and Budget create a searchable database of state expenditures, was heard in the House Appropriations Committee Monday, January 19; (3) HB 1013, the Department of Public Instruction appropriation bill, was heard in the House Appropriations Committee, Education and Environment Division, Tuesday, January 20; (4) SB 2019, the Career and Technical Education appropriation bill, was heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday, January 22; (5) HB 1230, a bill that provides a $6 million Permanent Oil Tax Trust Fund appropriation to WSC for construction of a career and technical education virtual center, was heard in the House Education Committee Monday, January 19; and (6) HB 1027, a bill that gives the Budget Section authority to increase the number of legislatively authorized full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, was heard in the House Appropriations Committee Monday, January 19. Lists of bills failed this week and bills on the week four agenda are also reported.