Higher education funding.

Requires the commission to create a higher educational operating funding outcomes based formula (funding formula) in each year prior to a budget session of the general assembly. Provides that the commission shall (not may) develop a long range plan for postsecondary education. Requires the commission to take: (1) reducing the financial burden on students and their families for postsecondary education; (2) the impact on economic development; and (3) the funding formula; into account in developing the long range plan. Requires the commission to present to the budget committee a summary of the legislative requests of all state educational institutions and the commission's recommendations concerning operations, capital projects, and financial aid. Requires the commission to biannually measure and make findings on the progress of each state educational institution in meeting the goals of the commission's long range plan as those goals pertain to the funding formula and include the findings in its presentation to the budget committee. Requires the commission to present the funding formula created by the commission to the budget committee. Requires the commission to biannually engage a third party examiner to audit the data submitted by each state educational institution for use within the funding formula and submit a copy of each audit report to the audit and financial reporting subcommittee of the legislative council. Requires the commission to present recommendations for the funding of state educational institution capital projects to the budget committee.