HB 2151-S.2E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Declares an intent that a methodology be developed that will guide capital appropriation decisions by rating and individually ranking, in sequential, priority order, all major capital projects proposed by the two-year and four-year public universities and colleges.

Declares an intent that this rating, ranking, and prioritization of capital needs will reflect the state's higher education policies and goals including the comprehensive master plan for higher education as submitted by the higher education coordinating board and as adopted by the legislature.

Provides that, beginning with the 2005-2007 biennial capital budget submittal, the public four-year institutions, in consultation with the council of presidents and the higher education coordinating board, shall prepare a single prioritized individual ranking of the individual projects proposed by the four-year institutions as provided in this act. The public four-year institutions may aggregate minor works project requests into priority categories without separately ranking each minor project, provided that these aggregated minor works requests are ranked within the overall list.

Requires the higher education coordinating board, in consultation with the office of financial management and the joint legislative audit and review committee, to develop common definitions that public four-year institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges shall use in developing their project lists under this act.

Provides that, beginning with the 2005-2007 biennial capital budget submittal, the higher education coordinating board shall, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges and four-year colleges and universities, submit its capital budget recommendations and the separate two-year and four-year prioritized project lists.