Conference committee reviews higher-education budget provisions in Senate Bill 2003

Chairman Sorvaug convened the conference committee on Senate Bill 2003 (higher education) and asked members to take the role before Representative Sanford walked conferees through the bill’s long-sheet budget provisions.

The committee reviewed a range of provisions in the conference draft, including who may select outside consultants for presidential searches, changes to completion and weighting factors in the funding model, limits on resident undergraduate tuition increases, authorization to grant hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers to clinics, and direction for several studies of higher-education policy and administration. ‘‘We’re gonna call the conference committee to order on, Senate Bill 2,003, the higher ed 1,’’ Chairman Sorvaug said at the start of the meeting.

The bill text under discussion would cap resident undergraduate tuition-rate increases at 4% per year and allow an additional 1% for differentiated tuition for graduate and professional programs. Conferees discussed language meant to clarify which officials decide how to select consultants to assist in recruiting college and university presidents (House…