2026 Regular Session - Day 28 - HB 490 | Rep. Aaron Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 490 is a fiscal responsibility bill that requires all nine Board of Trustees or Regents to create policies that would allow for removing faculty members due to legitimate financial reasons. While various policies exist at some of our state universities, the process is not consistent. Language in this bill is modeled after Faculty Senate-approved handbook language at the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University. In the bill, bona fide financial reasons are described as financial exigency, low enrollment in a particular program or major, or misalignment of revenue and cost in a particular college department program or major. House Bill 490 also requires a process to be developed by each Board that includes a notification to the affected faculty member with an opportunity for the faculty member to respond to the Board. Language in Section 1 also allows for additional flexibility or discretion in the cases of removal or cost. At each of our universities in KCTCS, the Governor appoints and the Senate confirms the majority of Board of Trustees or Regents. In each of these appointments, along with the elected trustees, lies the governing responsibilities of our critical post-secondary educational institutions that our state relies on. House Bill 490 gives these Boards an additional tool in their toolbox to be a good steward for institutions' future, their students, and for the taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Clerk to report House Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 490. Clerk, please report. House Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 490. Gentleman from Greenville. Mr. Speaker, House Floor Amendment 1 clarifies language for implementation and modifies the effective date from July 1st of this year to October 1st for compliance purposes. I move adoption of House Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 490. Motion is for the adoption of House Floor Amendment 1. Is there any discussion of the floor amendment? Seeing none, those in favor signify by voting aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. House Floor Amendment 1 is adopted. Gentleman from Greenville. Mr. Speaker, if there are no questions, I move passage of House Bill 490 as amended by House Floor Amendment 1.