Senate and House budget writers are working out differences between the SB and HB 1 the biennial state budget. The budget proposals are $4 billion apart and conference committee members are working hard to balance the final budget for the 2010 -2011 biennium.
This budget cycle is particularly challenging due to the economy but the Senate and House must certify a budget which will provide necessary programs and services to Texans and as the constitution declares is balanced.
I am pleased to be a part of this most important task of ensuring that essential services and pograms across the state of Texas are provided to the people of this great state Senator Shapiro said. Texans expect us to meet their priorities along with our financial capabilities and we are working to do just that.
Shapiro has ben charged with overseeing Articles III and VII of the budget which encompass public and higher education and economic development transportation and housing respectively. Article I general government is being handled by Sen. Royce West D-Dallas Article II health and human services will be done by Sen. Tommy Williams R-The Woodlands Sen. Juan Chuy" HinojosaD-McAllen will oversee Articles IV V VI and VIII covering the judiciary criminal justice natural resources and regulatory agencies. Sen. Steve Ogden R-Bryan/College Station is overseeing Articles IX X XI and XII general provisions legislative agencies contingency riders and stimulus funding respectively.
Sen. Shapiro presented her articles to the full conference committee this week. The following is a summary of where the two sections are as of now. A full report is expected by mid-May before being taken to the full Senate for consideration.
Article III
The committee is working differences between the House and Senate funding approaches in public and higher education. In public education the issues revolve around how to reward successful teachers and how best to prepare students to meet the rigor a post secondary readiness curriculum and end of course tests.
In higher education the issues focus on the level of funding for financial aid programs and student hours at community colleges general academic institutions and health related institutions.
Article III encompasses the Texas Education Agency Texas School for the Blind and Visually impaired Texas School for the Deaf the Teacher Retirement System and all institutions of higher education.
Article VII
The committee is working on revisions to the Texas Department of Transportations budget strategies which will make the agency more transparent and easier for the Legislature and the public to scrutinize the funding for new projects and existing ones. They are also working out differences in the budgets of the Workforce Commission and Department of Housing & Community Affairs.
Article VII encompasses five state agencies including TxDOT Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs as well as the Texas Lottery Commission and the Office of Rural and Community Affairs.
Senate and House budget writers are working out differences between the SB and HB 1 the biennial state budget. The budget proposals are $4 billion apart and conference committee members are working hard to balance the final budget for the 2010 -2011 biennium.
This budget cycle is particularly challenging due to the economy but the Senate and House must certify a budget which will provide necessary programs and services to Texans and as the constitution declares is balanced.
I am pleased to be a part of this most important task of ensuring that essential services and pograms across the state of Texas are provided to the people of this great state Senator Shapiro said. Texans expect us to meet their priorities along with our financial capabilities and we are working to do just that.
Shapiro has ben charged with overseeing Articles III and VII of the budget which encompass public and higher education and economic development transportation and housing respectively. Article I general government is being handled by Sen. Royce West D-Dallas Article II health and human services will be done by Sen. Tommy Williams R-The Woodlands Sen. Juan Chuy" HinojosaD-McAllen will oversee Articles IV V VI and VIII covering the judiciary criminal justice natural resources and regulatory agencies. Sen. Steve Ogden R-Bryan/College Station is overseeing Articles IX X XI and XII general provisions legislative agencies contingency riders and stimulus funding respectively.
Sen. Shapiro presented her articles to the full conference committee this week. The following is a summary of where the two sections are as of now. A full report is expected by mid-May before being taken to the full Senate for consideration.
Article III
The committee is working differences between the House and Senate funding approaches in public and higher education. In public education the issues revolve around how to reward successful teachers and how best to prepare students to meet the rigor a post secondary readiness curriculum and end of course tests.
In higher education the issues focus on the level of funding for financial aid programs and student hours at community colleges general academic institutions and health related institutions.
Article III encompasses the Texas Education Agency Texas School for the Blind and Visually impaired Texas School for the Deaf the Teacher Retirement System and all institutions of higher education.
Article VII
The committee is working on revisions to the Texas Department of Transportations budget strategies which will make the agency more transparent and easier for the Legislature and the public to scrutinize the funding for new projects and existing ones. They are also working out differences in the budgets of the Workforce Commission and Department of Housing & Community Affairs.
Article VII encompasses five state agencies including TxDOT Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs as well as the Texas Lottery Commission and the Office of Rural and Community Affairs.
