Committee backs bill creating task force to review higher-education governance, funding

The Senate Higher Education Committee released Senate Bill 3 7 7 1 with amendments to form a task force on higher-education governance and funding and to expand the panel's scope and timelines.

Committee amendments lengthened appointment and meeting windows to 60 days from 30, specified that the Secretary of Higher Education serve as interim chair until a chair is appointed, and required at least one public hearing. The task force's duties were expanded to include identifying and evaluating state statutory and regulatory requirements, analyzing state funding made available to meet statutory and regulatory obligations, developing a master calendar, reviewing mission statements and relationships among county colleges and other institutions, assessing how institutions meet workforce needs, and analyzing the impact of governance changes since the 1994 restructuring.

The committee also amended the bill to include a $200,000 appropriation from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to hire third-party experts as needed.

Jennifer Keys Maloney of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities testified in support, noting historical governance changes since 1994 and ongoing capital and funding challenges; she urged engagement with college presidents and workforce considerations as the task force proceeds.

The committee voted to release S3771 with the committee amendments; the bill now moves to the next stage of the legislative process.