Message - June 15, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTIETH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:

Pursuant to Article IV, Sections 14 and 15 of the Texas Constitution, I, Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove and veto House Bill No. 589 of the 80th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, due to the following objections:

House Bill No. 589 again would reduce enrollment requirements for three small branch campuses, or "centers," to become free-standing general academic teaching institutions. The bill as filed would lower enrollment requirements for Tarleton State University System Center - Central Texas. House Bill No. 589 was amended to decrease requirements at the University of North Texas System Center at Dallas and the Texas A&M University System Center at San Antonio.

These enrollment changes expedite eligibility for independent status and greater state appropriations. The bill thwarts the Higher Education Coordinating Board's longstanding policy of requiring 3,500 full-time student equivalents necessary to determine when and where to establish new universities. The bill leads to seriously inefficient levels of appropriations to the centers.

My position concerning further reductions to enrollment requirements for independent status was made clear in 2005 with the signing statements to Senate Bill No. 296 and House Bill No. 495, in which I said it was "my intention that no future deviation from the Coordinating Board standards occur."

Furthermore, it is disturbing that the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) fiscal note stated that there would be no implication to the state from the bill's passage. This fiscal note is seriously misleading and prevented the legislature from acting with any knowledge of the bill's cost. The Coordinating Board told the LBB that the bill would cost $7.6 million for the 2008-09 biennium and another $15 million in 2010-11 just for the Central Texas center. Dallas and San Antonio add to this cost exponentially. All of this information was ignored by the LBB.

Taxpayers, members of the legislature, and I deserve to have honest fiscal notes that allow legitimate determination as to the true costs of bills so that realistic consideration of legislation can occur.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this the 15th day of June, 2007.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

ATTESTED BY:
ROGER WILLIAMS
Secretary of State