HCS HB 321 & 493 -- GOVERNING BODIES OF PUBLIC COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES (Farnen)

This substitute makes several changes in the representation on
the governing bodies of public colleges and universities.  These
changes affect the governing boards at the University of
Missouri, Lincoln University, Truman State University, and the 7
regional state colleges and universities.

The student representative to the governing board of each of
these institutions is authorized to receive the same
reimbursement for expenses related to board meeting attendance
as other board members.  Current law prohibits the student
representative at Lincoln University and the regional
institutions from receiving reimbursement for expenses.  The
substitute also clarifies that the current requirement for the
student representative to have paid all student fees and tuition
prior to appointment to the board and while serving on the
board, unless alternative arrangements have been made and agreed
to by the student and the institution, applies to the student
representative at all of the institutions.  The student
representatives are permitted to attend closed meetings of the
board unless the board members who are present and who are not a
faculty or student representative unanimously vote to exclude
them from a given closed meeting.

The substitute authorizes a faculty member representative as a
nonvoting member of each institution's governing body.  The
process for appointing the faculty member representatives is
outlined in the bill.  Faculty member representatives are
allowed to attend closed meetings of the board unless the board
members who are present and who are not a faculty or student
representative unanimously vote to exclude them from a given
closed meeting.  Provisions for filling faculty vacancies on the
boards are outlined.

The substitute also requires that confidentiality as provided by
board policy and law apply to all members and representatives on
the governing boards, and allows any member or representative to
voluntarily recuse himself or herself from any board
deliberation or proceeding.

Current law authorizes the Governor to appoint 9 members to the
Lincoln University Board of Curators.  The substitute requires
that not more than one of the 9 curators be appointed from the
same congressional district.

The size of the board of governors for Central Missouri State
University, Southwest Missouri State University, and the other
public four-year colleges and universities with a statewide
mission is reduced from 10 to 8 members.  This change is made by
removing the 2 nonvoting members who reside out-of-state.  The
provision requiring the appointment of one nonvoting member who
is a student is retained.  Current law requires that, of the 4
voting members of the board selected from within each of these
institution's service region, not more than one of the 4 be
appointed from any one county.  This provision is deleted and
replaced with the requirement that no more than 2 of these 4
members are to be appointed from a county with less than 200,000
inhabitants.  The substitute also deletes the provision that, of
the 3 voting members of the board selected from outside of each
these institution's service region, not more than one be
appointed from any one congressional district.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HCS HB 321 & 493 -- GOVERNING BODIES OF PUBLIC COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES

SPONSOR:  Farnen

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Higher
Education by a vote of 18 to 0.

This substitute makes several changes in the representation on
the governing bodies of public colleges and universities.  These
changes affect the governing boards at the University of
Missouri, Lincoln University, Truman State University, and the 7
regional state colleges and universities.

The student representative to the governing board of each of
these institutions is authorized to receive the same
reimbursement for expenses related to board meeting attendance
as other board members.  Current law prohibits the student
representative at Lincoln University and the regional
institutions from receiving reimbursement for expenses.  The
substitute also clarifies that the current requirement for the
student representative to have paid all student fees and tuition
prior to appointment to the board and while serving on the
board, unless alternative arrangements have been made and agreed
to by the student and the institution, applies to the student
representative at all of the institutions.  The student
representatives are permitted to attend closed meetings of the
board unless the board members who are present and who are not a
faculty or student representative unanimously vote to exclude
them from a given closed meeting.

The substitute authorizes a faculty member representative as a
nonvoting member of each institution's governing body.  The
process for appointing the faculty member representatives is
outlined in the bill.  Faculty member representatives are
allowed to attend closed meetings of the board unless the board
members who are present and who are not a faculty or student
representative unanimously vote to exclude them from a given
closed meeting.  Provisions for filling faculty vacancies on the
boards are outlined.

The substitute also requires that confidentiality as provided by
board policy and law apply to all members and representatives on
the governing boards, and allows any member or representative to
voluntarily recuse himself or herself from any board
deliberation or proceeding.

Current law authorizes the Governor to appoint 9 members to the
Lincoln University Board of Curators.  The substitute requires
that not more than one of the 9 curators be appointed from the
same congressional district.

The size of the board of governors for Central Missouri State
University, Southwest Missouri State University, and the other
public four-year colleges and universities with a statewide
mission is reduced from 10 to 8 members.  This change is made by
removing the 2 nonvoting members who reside out-of-state.  The
provision requiring the appointment of one nonvoting member who
is a student is retained.  Current law requires that, of the 4
voting members of the board selected from within each of these
institution's service region, not more than one of the 4 be
appointed from any one county.  This provision is deleted and
replaced with the requirement that no more than 2 of these 4
members are to be appointed from a county with less than 200,000
inhabitants.  The substitute also deletes the provision that, of
the 3 voting members of the board selected from outside of each
these institution's service region, not more than one be
appointed from any one congressional district.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the changes made in the
governing boards promote fairness, equity, and representation of
various regional interests in the governance of these schools.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Farnen, Hosmer, and
Days; American Association of University Professors; Associated
Students of the University of Missouri; Southwest Missouri State
University; Central Missouri State University; Lincoln
University National Alumni Association; Bill Gillispie; and
Harold Mabrey.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Debra Cheshier, Senior Legislative Analyst

HB 321 -- Governing Bodies of Public Colleges and Universities

Co-Sponsors:  Farnen, Riback Wilson, Hosmer, Schilling, Williams
(121), Graham (24), Champion

This bill makes several changes in the representation on the
governing bodies of public colleges and universities.  These
changes affect the governing boards at the University of
Missouri, Lincoln University, Truman State University, and the 7
regional state colleges and universities.

The student representative to the governing board of each of
these institutions is authorized to receive the same
reimbursement for expenses related to board meeting attendance
as other board members.  Current law prohibits the student
representative at Lincoln University and the regional
institutions from receiving reimbursement for expenses.  The
bill also clarifies that the current requirement for the student
representative to have paid all student fees and tuition prior
to appointment to the board and while serving on the board,
unless alternative arrangements have been made and agreed to by
the student and the institution, applies to the student
representative at all of the institutions.  The student
representatives are permitted to attend closed meetings of the
board unless the board members who are present and who are not a
faculty or student representative unanimously vote to exclude
them from a given closed meeting.

The bill authorizes a faculty member representative as a
nonvoting member of each institution's governing body.  A panel
of 3 names of full-time faculty members is to be submitted to
the Governor by each institution's faculty governing
association.  From the panel of names, the Governor will appoint
the faculty member representative, with the advice and consent
of the Senate.  Faculty appointments to the Board of Curators of
the University of Missouri will rotate among each of the 4
campuses, beginning with the Columbia campus, followed by the
Kansas City campus, the Rolla campus, and the St. Louis campus.
The faculty member representative at each institution must be a
U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident.  Faculty member
representatives are to serve a term of 2 years, and will receive
the same reimbursement for expenses as other board members.
Faculty member representatives are allowed to attend closed
meetings of the board unless the board members who are present
and who are not a faculty or student representative unanimously
vote to exclude them from a given closed meeting.  Provisions
for filling faculty vacancies on the boards are outlined.  The
board of governors at Truman State University and at each of the
7 regional institutions is increased from 10 to 11 members, to
accommodate the addition of a nonvoting faculty member
representative.

The bill also requires that confidentiality as provided by board
policy and law apply to all members and representatives on the
governing boards, and allows any member or representative to
voluntarily recuse himself or herself from any board
deliberation or proceeding.