MINUTES OF THE

HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2002, 2:00 P.M.

Room 223, State Capitol Building





Members Present: Sen. Lyle Hillyard, Committee Co-Chair

Rep. Afton Bradshaw, Committee Co-Chair

Sen. Paula Julander

Rep. Patrice M. Arent

Rep. Katherine M. Bryson

Rep. Margaret Dayton

Rep. Patricia W. Jones

Rep. LaWanna "Lou" Shurtliff

Rep. Richard M. Siddoway

Rep. Gordon E. Snow

Rep. Stephen H. Urquhart



Members Excused: Sen. Peter Knudson

Sen. Steve Poulton

Rep. Martin R. Stephens



Staff Present: Boyd A. Garriott, Senior Legislative Fiscal Analyst

Rolayne Day, Secretary



Public Speakers Present: Charlie Johnson, Chair, Board of Regents

Regent Brent Hogan

Norm Tarbox, Associate Commissioner, USHE

Pres. Ryan Thomas, CEU

Pres. Paul Thompson, WSU

Pres. Kermit Hall, USU

Pres. Lynn Cundiff, SLCC

Commissioner Cecelia Foxley



Visitor List on File



Committee Co-Chair Hillyard called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m.



MOTION: Rep. Bradshaw moved to approve minutes of the January 9, 2002, and January 10, 2002, meetings and corrected minutes of the January 8, 2002, meeting.



The motion passed unanimously.



MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to approve the Analysts' recommended budget cuts for the UEN.



Rep. Arent spoke against the motion because she does not think that the cuts need to be so deep. She indicated that she would vote against all budget cut reduction motions for the same reason.



The motion passed with Sens. Hillyard and Julander and Reps. Bradshaw, Bryson, Dayton, Siddoway, Snow, and Urquhart voting aye and Reps. Arent, Jones and Shurtliff voting nay.



WSU President Paul Thompson discussed cuts each institution has taken and outlined plans for the next cut. Institutions will continue a hiring freeze and make further cuts in operating budgets, deferred maintenance, equipment purchases, and current expense. Decisions were made through collaboration between deans, department chairs, area directors, etc.



MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to accept the presidents' budget cut proposal and to adopt intent language as follows:



It is the intent of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel be directed to draft legislation that gives the presidents of each institution of higher education the authority to make reductions across line items in an amount adopted by the Legislature for each institution, with the approval of the institution's board of trustees.



Rep. Shurtliff asked that the motion be divided.



Rep. Snow spoke in favor of the motion.



The proposed intent language portion of the motion passed unanimously.



The budget cut portion of the motion passed with Sen. Hillyard and Reps. Bradshaw, Bryson, Dayton, Siddoway, Snow, and Urquhart voting aye, and Sen. Julander and Reps. Arent, Jones and Shurtliff voting nay.



Commissioner Foxley asked that the Committee ask for temporary support to get the institutions through the rest of the academic year.



Rep. Arent moved to adjourn.



Committee Co-Chair Hillyard adjourned the meeting at 3:25 p.m.



Minutes were reported by Rolayne Day, Secretary.







Sen. Lyle Hillyard, Committee Co-Chair

Rep. Afton Bradshaw, Committee Co-Chair