Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for College and Universities and the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for College and Universities. It appropriates a total of $604,248,500 and does not cap the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. Inflationary adjustments include $2,764,700 from dedicated funds for general inflation. Funding for replacement items includes $116,700 from dedicated funds for replacement items. For statewide cost allocation, $106,200 is provided. Nondiscretionary adjustments include an increase of $3,685,800 and endowment adjustments include an increase of $233,500. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. Funding for a 3% upward shift in the compensation schedule is also included. The bill funds three line items, which provide: $50,000 onetime from the General Fund to pilot the development of open education resources, a no-cost or low-cost electronic textbook option for students; $150,000 in ongoing operating expenditures from the General Fund for Idaho's postsecondary institutions to join a dual enrollment registration system; and 3.18 FTP and $887,800 ongoing from the General Fund ($115,900 for personnel costs, $771,900 for operating expenditures) for occupancy costs of Boise State University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho. DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and