Rep. Bob Smith, R-Watkinsville, hopes to replace the board with the General Assembly. The bill, which was introduced on Friday, also would merge vocational, technical and adult education with the University System of Georgia.
University System officials were surprised by the bill. Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, said he heard about the proposal through a reporter.
"That's how you make an end run around the governor," he said. "Sometimes folks like to fire a shot over the bow, and we've had a lot of that lately. Frankly I'm very satisfied with the regents system."
Under the current system, the governor appoints all members of the Board of Regents. Because regents' terms are staggered, backers say, it is unlikely a panel ever would be stacked with one governor's appointees.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/2/206771