House Bill hb1369

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

        By Representative Bilirakis






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to higher education; providing

  3         Legislative intent; redesignating St.

  4         Petersburg Junior College as "St. Petersburg

  5         College and University Center"; requiring

  6         accreditation; providing a mission; providing

  7         conditional authority to offer

  8         baccalaureate-degree-level programs;

  9         authorizing certain baccalaureate-degree

10         programs and a process for increasing their

11         number; establishing a governing board and a

12         coordinating board; providing for dispute

13         resolution; providing for certain employment

14         classifications; providing for the acquisition

15         of land, buildings, and equipment; authorizing

16         the power of eminent domain; providing for

17         state funding; requiring a cost-accounting

18         process; providing an appropriation; providing

19         an effective date.

20

21         WHEREAS, in the past 10 years, Florida has aggressively

22  pursued strategies to increase the number of citizens who

23  complete a high-quality baccalaureate degree program,

24  including the allocation of over $575 million to build a new

25  university, add branch campuses and centers for existing

26  universities, create joint-use facilities in cooperation with

27  community colleges, and increase the use of technology, and

28         WHEREAS, despite these efforts, Florida continues to

29  rank among the lowest in the nation in the production of

30  baccalaureate degrees, especially in the fields experiencing

31  the greatest workforce demand, and

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1         WHEREAS, these high-demand fields include teachers,

  2  health care professionals, and qualified managers for private

  3  firms and public service agencies, including agencies that

  4  protect public safety, and

  5         WHEREAS, Pinellas County is Florida's most densely

  6  populated county and is experiencing great need for these

  7  professionals, and it has no free-standing state university,

  8  and

  9         WHEREAS, Pinellas County is home to more than twice as

10  many college-age citizens as the number who live in four of

11  the counties that have free-standing state universities, and

12         WHEREAS, enrollment at the College University Center at

13  St. Petersburg Junior College has increased to 725 students in

14  only 1 year of operation, providing positive proof that the

15  area can benefit from innovative access to

16  baccalaureate-degree education that is affordable and

17  convenient to students who are working full time, NOW

18  THEREFORE,

19

20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

21

22         Section 1.  Legislative intent.--The Legislature

23  intends to create an innovative means to increase access to

24  baccalaureate-degree-level education in populous counties that

25  are underserved by public baccalaureate-degree-granting

26  institutions. This education is intended to address the

27  state's workforce needs, especially the need for teachers,

28  nurses, and business managers in agencies and firms that

29  require expertise in technology.

30         Section 2.  St. Petersburg College and University

31  Center; mission.--St. Petersburg Junior College is

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1  redesignated as St. Petersburg College and University Center.

  2  The college shall immediately seek accreditation from the

  3  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a

  4  baccalaureate-degree-granting college.

  5         (1)  The primary mission of St. Petersburg College and

  6  University Center is to provide high-quality undergraduate

  7  education at an affordable price for students and the state.

  8  The purpose is to promote economic development by preparing

  9  people for occupations that require a bachelor's degree and

10  are in demand by existing or emerging public and private

11  employers in this state.

12         (2)  The college is to maintain the mission and

13  policies of a Florida community college, including the

14  open-door admissions policy and the authority to offer all

15  programs consistent with a public community college's

16  authority.

17         (3)  St. Petersburg College and University Center shall

18  maintain the distinction between the college and its

19  university center. St. Petersburg College and University

20  Center is limited to community college programs and to

21  selected baccalaureate-degree-level programs that meet

22  community needs and are authorized as provided by this act.

23  The University Center may make available more diverse program

24  offerings, but those programs are offered by a participating

25  college or university and are not to be classified or funded

26  as a program of St. Petersburg College and University Center.

27         (4)  The academic policies of the upper-division

28  program at St. Petersburg College and University Center must

29  be in accordance with policies of the State University System.

30         (5)  Sections 240.293 and 240.2945, Florida Statutes,

31  apply to St. Petersburg College and University Center. 

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1         Section 3.  St. Petersburg College and University

  2  Center; students.--

  3         (1)  St. Petersburg College and University Center shall

  4  maintain separate records for students who are enrolled in

  5  courses classified in the upper division and lower division of

  6  a baccalaureate program, according to the Common Course

  7  Numbering System. A student shall be reported as a community

  8  college student for enrollment in a lower-division course and

  9  as a baccalaureate-degree-program student for enrollment in an

10  upper-division course.

11         (2)  The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College

12  and University Center shall establish the level of

13  matriculation, tuition, and other authorized student fees.

14         (a)  For each credit hour of enrollment in a

15  certificate-level course or lower-division-level college

16  credit course, matriculation and tuition fees must be within

17  the range authorized in law and rule for a community college

18  student at that level.

19         (b)  For each credit hour of enrollment in an

20  upper-division-level course, matriculation and tuition fees

21  must be in an amount established by the Board of Trustees of

22  St. Petersburg College and University Center. However, fees

23  for upper-division students must reflect the fact that the

24  college does not incur the costs of major research programs.

25  Therefore, the board shall establish fees for upper-division

26  students within a range that is lower than the fees

27  established for students at a public university but higher

28  than the fees for community college students.

29         (c)  Other mandatory fees and local fees must be at the

30  same level for all students, regardless of program enrollment

31  or level. However, students in workforce development education

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1  courses maintain the authorized fee exemptions described in

  2  section 239.117, Florida Statutes, and may be exempt from

  3  local fees imposed by the Board of Trustees, at the board's

  4  discretion.

  5         Section 4.  St. Petersburg College and University

  6  Center; degrees.--

  7         (1)  In addition to the certificates, diplomas, and

  8  degrees authorized in section 240.301, Florida Statutes, St.

  9  Petersburg College and University Center may offer selected

10  baccalaureate degrees. Initially, the college may offer

11  programs that lead to a baccalaureate degree in the following

12  fields:

13         (a)  Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This program must

14  be designed to articulate with the Associate in Science Degree

15  in nursing. St. Petersburg College and University Center shall

16  continue to offer the Associate in Science degree in nursing.

17         (b)  Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in

18  Elementary Education.

19         (c)  Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in

20  Special Education.

21         (d)  Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in

22  Secondary Education.

23         (e)  Bachelor of Applied Science in fields selected by

24  the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College and University

25  Center. The board shall base the selection on an analysis of

26  workforce needs and opportunities in the following counties:

27  Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and other counties approved by the

28  Florida Department of Education. For each program selected,

29  St. Petersburg College and University Center must offer a

30  related Associate-in-Science or Associate-in-Applied-Science

31  degree program, and the baccalaureate-degree-level program

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1  must be designed to articulate fully with at least one

  2  Associate-in-Science degree program. The college is encouraged

  3  to develop articulation agreements for enrollment of graduates

  4  of related Associate-in-Applied-Science degree programs.

  5         (2)  St. Petersburg College and University Center may

  6  offer courses at any level which enable teachers to qualify

  7  for recertification as required by law or rule.

  8         (3)  The college may offer programs to provide

  9  opportunities for a person who holds a baccalaureate degree,

10  but is not certified to teach, to obtain any additional

11  courses required for teacher certification.

12         (4)  Masters-degree-level programs and doctoral

13  programs may be provided by agreement with a college or

14  university participating in the College University Center of

15  St. Petersburg College and University Center.

16         Section 5.  St. Petersburg College and University

17  Center; boards.--

18         (1)  The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg Junior

19  College is renamed the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg

20  College and University Center and serves as its governing

21  board. The Governor shall appoint members as provided in

22  section 240.313, Florida Statutes, and the board has the

23  duties and authorities granted in sections 240.315 and

24  240.319, Florida Statutes, and by rules of the State Board of

25  Education.

26         (2)  The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College

27  and University Center may authorize direct support

28  organizations as authorized in sections 240.299 and 240.331,

29  Florida Statutes.

30         (3)  The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College

31  and University Center may continue to award degrees, diplomas,

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1  and certificates as authorized for St. Petersburg Junior

  2  College, and in the name of St. Petersburg Junior College,

  3  until St. Petersburg College and University Center receives

  4  its accreditation.

  5         (4)  A coordinating board shall assist the Board of

  6  Trustees in its deliberations concerning issues that affect

  7  the upper division of the college. The coordinating board

  8  consists of the President of the University of South Florida,

  9  the President of St. Petersburg College and University Center,

10  and the chairpersons of the boards of trustees of those

11  institutions.

12         (5)  Beginning 4 years after the college receives

13  accreditation to offer baccalaureate degrees, the Board of

14  Trustees of St. Petersburg College and University Center may

15  determine additional programs to be offered, with the approval

16  of the coordinating board. The determination must consider

17  community needs and economic opportunities.

18         (6)  The coordinating board shall meet at the request

19  of the President of the University of South Florida or the

20  President of St. Petersburg College and University Center.

21         (7)  If the coordinating board cannot decide an issue

22  of importance to the programs designed for upper-division

23  students, the chief educational officer of this state shall

24  resolve the issue.

25         Section 6.  St. Petersburg College and University

26  Center; employees.--

27         (1)  Employment at St. Petersburg College and

28  University Center is governed by the same laws that govern

29  community colleges, except that upper-division faculty are

30  eligible for continuing contract upon the completion of the

31  fifth year of teaching.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1         (2)  Employee records for all personnel shall be

  2  maintained as required by s. 240.337, Florida Statutes.

  3         (3)  St. Petersburg College and University Center may

  4  reemploy retired career service, administrative and

  5  professional, professional, and faculty personnel immediately

  6  upon retirement, without a penalty and without imposing a

  7  waiting period.

  8         Section 7.  St. Petersburg College and University

  9  Center; facilities.--The St. Petersburg College and University

10  Center may request funding from the Public Education Capital

11  Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund as a community college and

12  as a university. The municipalities of Pinellas County, the

13  Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas County, and all

14  other governmental entities are authorized to cooperate with

15  the Board of Trustees in establishing this institution. The

16  acquisition and donation of lands, buildings, and equipment

17  for the use of St. Petersburg College and University Center

18  are authorized as a public purpose. The Board of County

19  Commissioners of Pinellas County and all municipalities in

20  Pinellas County may exercise the power of eminent domain to

21  acquire lands, buildings, and equipment for the use of St.

22  Petersburg College and University Center, regardless of

23  whether such lands, buildings, and equipment are located in a

24  community redevelopment area.

25         Section 8.  St. Petersburg College and University

26  Center; state funding.--

27         (1)  The Legislature  intends to fund St. Petersburg

28  College and University Center as a community college for its

29  workforce development education programs and for its

30  lower-division-level college credit courses and programs.

31

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1369

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  1         (2)  The Legislature intends to fund St. Petersburg

  2  College and University Center as a baccalaureate-degree-level

  3  institution for its upper-division-level courses and programs.

  4         (3)  During the 2001-2002 fiscal year, St. Petersburg

  5  College and University Center shall estimate the appropriate

  6  level of funding for these programs. By March 1, 2002, the

  7  college shall complete a cost study and shall submit to the

  8  Legislature a proposal for cost accounting and legislative

  9  budget requests designed to acknowledge its unique

10  classification. The cost study must indicate actual costs

11  projected for the first 4 years of operation as a

12  baccalaureate-level institution, with the first students

13  expected to enroll in the upper division in fall semester of

14  2002.

15         Section 9.  To fund the necessary improvements,

16  personnel, and acquisitions required for accreditation as a

17  baccalaureate-degree-level institution, the sum of _______ is

18  appropriated to the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg Junior

19  College.

20         Section 10.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.

21

22            *****************************************

23                          SENATE SUMMARY

24    Redesignates St. Petersburg Junior College as "St.
      Petersburg College and University Center." Requires
25    accreditation. Provides for the center's mission.
      Provides conditional authority to offer
26    baccalaureate-degree-level programs. Authorizes certain
      baccalaureate-degree programs and provides a process for
27    increasing the number of such programs. Establishes a
      governing board and a coordinating board. Provides for
28    dispute resolution. Provides for certain employment
      classifications. Provides for the acquisition of land,
29    buildings, and equipment. Authorizes the power of eminent
      domain. Provides for state funding. Requires a
30    cost-accounting process. Provides an appropriation.

31

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