Draft
Higher Education Capital Projects Transparency Act
Section 1. {Building Utilization Data.}
(A) Each institution of public higher education shall develop and promulgate procedures for maximum utilization of existing facilities, including, as appropriate, plans for the use of distance and online education.
(B) Each institution of public higher education shall post on its website annual data on the utilization of classroom and laboratory facilities during regular academic terms.
(C) Such data will include, but not be limited to:
(1) average weekly number of hoursof instructional usage of all campus classrooms
(2) average number of hours of instructional usage of all campus classrooms, reported by day of the week and time of day
(3) average weekly hours of usage for instruction of all campus laboratories
(4) average number of hours of instructional usage of all campus laboratories, reported by day of the week and time of day
(5) average percentage of seats filled in all classes taught in campus classrooms
(6) average percentage of laboratory stations used in campus laboratory sections
(7) the number of courses the institution currently offers online and its plans for future online development
Section 2. {Public Discussion of Proposed Capital Projects.}
(A) For all proposed campus capital construction projects exceeding $10,000,000 in total cost, the governing board of a public university shall hold public discussion either at a regular meeting of its governing board or in a specially-convened public meeting.Such discussion shall proceed irrespective of the source of funding.
(B) Public discussion of proposed campus capital construction projects exceeding $10,000,000 will include, but not be limited to:
(1) Review of utilization of existing campus instructional buildings over a period not less than the three years preceding the construction proposal.
(2) Review of projected maintenance costs for the proposed building.
(3) Funding sources for the proposed building.
Section 3. {Reporting Requirements.}
(A) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, eachinstitution of higher education shall submit a written reportregarding the institution’s compliance with this section to thegovernor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house ofrepresentatives, and the presiding officer of each legislativestanding committee with primary jurisdiction over highereducation.
(B) As applicable, the [state] Coordinating Board may adoptrules necessary to administer this section.
Section 4. {Severability clause}
Section 5. {Repealer clause}
Section 6. {Effective date}
Drafting Note: The requirement to develop procedures for maximum utilization of existing facilities is modeled after Utah State Code Title 53B, Chapter 6, Section 101.
Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors January 16, 2012.
Re-Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors December 22, 2023.