HIGHER ED DATABASE H.B. 4838 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS






House Bill 4838 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Lorence Wenke
House Committee: Higher Education and Career Preparation
Senate Committee: Education

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Management and Budget Act to require the Office of the State Budget Director to do the following:

-- Establish and maintain the Higher Education Institutional Data Inventory (HEIDI) to collect data on public universities in the State. -- Develop policies for the collection of data, including policies to ensure the privacy of student data.
-- Provide data to State policy-makers, assist public universities with audits, and perform other duties.


The bill also would establish a HEIDI advisory committee to advise the Budget Director on complying with the bill's requirements. The committee would have to consist of representatives from the House Fiscal Agency, the Senate Fiscal Agency, the Budget Director's office, and the Presidents Council of State Universities.


The Auditor General would have to review HEIDI enrollment data submitted by all public universities; perform audits of selected data; and submit a report of findings to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Budget Director by July 1 of each year.


Proposed MCL 18.1299 Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on higher educational institutions but could have a minimal fiscal impact on the State Auditor General's office due to the requirement for annual HEIDI database audits.


The bill would place into statute language that has traditionally been included in the annual Higher Education appropriations act and would further define the duties of the State Budget Office. The FY 2005-06 Higher Education appropriations act (Public Act 154 of 2005, Article 8) includes $200,000 for the HEIDI database, which is currently maintained by the Department of Information Technology's Center for Geographic Information. The FY 2006-07 Governor's recommendation for Higher Education also includes the $200,000 appropriation.


The current language in the Higher Education appropriations act states that the Auditor General "may perform audits of selected public universities if determined necessary", while the bill would require the Auditor General to perform annual audits.


Date Completed: 3-16-06 Fiscal Analysts: Bill Bowerman Ellen Jeffries

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4838/0506