MEETING OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
April 16, 2009
Minutes
The Legislative Committee of the Board of Trustees of Houston Community College
held a meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at the HCC Administration Building, 3100
Main, 2nd Floor Seminar in Room A, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Diane Olmos Guzman, Committee Chair
Mills Worsham, Committee Member
Bruce Austin, Committee Member
Neeta Sane
Richard Schechter
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Mary S. Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
Bill Harmon, President, Central College and Interim President, Coleman College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Office of Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Dwight Boykins, Consultant, Boykins and Schneider
Mary Page, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Guzman called the meeting to order at 2:53 p.m. and declared the Committee
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS
Remmele Young provided an update on the following state activities:
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CSHB 6 (by Eiland)
HB 1814 (by Vo)
HB 2083 (by Solomons)
Houston Community College
Legislative Committee – April 16, 2009 - Page 2
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HB 2480 (by Hochberg)
SB 1 – General Appropriations
SB 41 (by Zaffirini)
New Campus Funding
Stimulus Funds
Formula Funding – Restoration of Proportionality Reductions
Rep. Garnet Coleman meeting: Trustee Bruce Austin and the HCC administrators
Interior Design Bill
(Mrs. Sane stepped out at 3:12 p.m.)
Mr. Austin asked if there could possibly be a resolution on house senate regarding
better coordination between community colleges.
Mr. Young presented a summary of the select committee and noted that the committee
has met with TxDot, METRO, Coordinating Board and noted that the findings suggest
that the Committee desires that each area be active participants. The report suggested
that the government should not be the final arbiter on who receives the funds.
Mr. Austin recommended possibly having a task force who focuses on how to get
stimulus funding.
(Dr. Williams arrived at 3:24 p.m.)
Dr. Cook noted that the Perkins funding is likely to benefit from the stimulus.
Mr. Austin mentioned that there should be a focus on administrative priorities. He
reiterated that all the colleges should be involved in the grant process because often
times block group penetration is reviewed.
Mrs. Guzman asked if the college has grant writers who research pipeline. Dr. Cook
noted that currently there is a reliance on part-time grant writers. Mrs. Guzman noted
that partnership opportunities available are missed because of a lack of grant writers.
(Mr. Schechter stepped out at 3:31 p.m.)
Dr. Williams noted that it is important to identify where the funds are going. He noted
that the concept should be reviewed. Mr. Young apprised that when asked to seek
grant efforts, there is collaboration with other entities.
(Mrs. Sane returned at 3:38 p.m.)
FEDERAL REPORT
Mr. Dwight Boykins informed that Congress should return on Monday and noted that
HCC is the only community college to receive appropriations for the nursing program.
He noted that requests have also been submitted for the EMT program.
Houston Community College
Legislative Committee – April 16, 2009 - Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3.40 p.m.
Recorded by:
Sharon R. Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved: