Senate Bill sb2254e2

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  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to community colleges;

  3         amending s. 1001.64, F.S.; providing that

  4         community colleges that grant baccalaureate

  5         degrees pursuant to s. 1007.33, F.S., remain

  6         under the authority of the State Board of

  7         Education with respect to specified

  8         responsibilities; providing that, subject to

  9         specified conditions, the board of trustees of

10         such a community college is the governing board

11         for purposes of granting baccalaureate degrees;

12         providing powers of the boards of trustees,

13         including the power to establish tuition and

14         out-of-state fees; providing restrictions;

15         requiring such boards to adopt a policy

16         requiring teachers who teach certain

17         upper-division courses to teach a specified

18         minimum number of hours; amending s. 1004.65,

19         F.S.; requiring community colleges that offer

20         baccalaureate degrees to maintain their primary

21         purpose and not terminate associate in arts

22         programs because they offer baccalaureate

23         degrees; amending s. 1007.33, F.S.; removing a

24         requirement for review and comment by the

25         Council for Education Policy Research and

26         Improvement of a proposal to deliver

27         baccalaureate degree programs; providing for

28         the State Board of Education to adopt rules

29         with respect to the articulation of specified

30         associate degrees with specified bachelor's

31         degrees; providing requirements for such rules;


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 1         requiring that a formal agreement for the

 2         delivery of specified baccalaureate degree

 3         programs by a regionally accredited college or

 4         university at a community college site include

 5         certain provisions; requiring that the

 6         curriculum for the degree be developed and

 7         approved within a specified time; requiring

 8         that the degree program be implemented within a

 9         specified time; requiring that a proposal to

10         deliver such a degree document that the

11         community college has notified the accredited

12         colleges and universities in the district of

13         its intent to seek approval for delivery of the

14         degree; allowing the colleges and universities

15         to propose an alternative plan for providing

16         the degree; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.;

17         providing guidelines and restrictions for

18         setting tuition and out-of-state fees for

19         upper-division courses; requiring the State

20         Board of Education, annually by a specified

21         date, to adopt a resident fee schedule for

22         baccalaureate degree programs offered by

23         community colleges; amending s. 1011.83, F.S.;

24         providing requirements for funding nonrecurring

25         and recurring costs associated with such

26         programs; limiting per-student funding to a

27         specified percentage of costs associated with

28         baccalaureate degree programs offered in state

29         universities; requiring community colleges to

30         maintain a distinction in reporting and funding

31         between baccalaureate degree programs approved


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 1         under s. 1007.33, F.S., and those offered under

 2         concurrent-use partnerships; amending s.

 3         1013.60, F.S.; allowing community college

 4         boards of trustees to request funding for all

 5         authorized programs; requiring that enrollment

 6         in baccalaureate degree programs be computed

 7         into the survey of need for facilities;

 8         approving a transfer of an endowment from the

 9         Appleton Cultural Center, Inc., to the Central

10         Florida Community College Foundation; providing

11         restrictions on the management of the

12         endowment; releasing the foundation from

13         certain trust agreement and statutory

14         requirements; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.;

15         authorizing each community college board of

16         trustees to establish a transportation user

17         fee; limiting such fee to the cost of the

18         service provided; allowing fines to exceed the

19         cost of services provided and to apply to

20         persons other than those receiving specified

21         services; amending s. 1011.68, F.S.; providing

22         that an isolated student who attends a charter

23         school governed by a community college

24         generates school transportation funding

25         according to a specified formula; authorizing a

26         community college board of trustees to pay for

27         transportation of students in private passenger

28         cars under certain circumstances; providing an

29         effective date.

30  

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


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 1         Section 1.  Subsections (1), (2), and (8) of section

 2  1001.64, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

 3         1001.64  Community college boards of trustees; powers

 4  and duties.--

 5         (1)  The boards of trustees shall be responsible for

 6  cost-effective policy decisions appropriate to the community

 7  college's mission, the implementation and maintenance of

 8  high-quality education programs within law and rules of the

 9  State Board of Education, the measurement of performance, the

10  reporting of information, and the provision of input regarding

11  state policy, budgeting, and education standards. Community

12  colleges may grant baccalaureate degrees pursuant to s.

13  1007.33 and shall remain under the authority of the State

14  Board of Education with respect to planning, coordination,

15  oversight, and budgetary and accountability responsibilities.

16         (2)  Each board of trustees is vested with the

17  responsibility to govern its respective community college and

18  with such necessary authority as is needed for the proper

19  operation and improvement thereof in accordance with rules of

20  the State Board of Education. This authority includes serving

21  as the governing board for purposes of granting baccalaureate

22  degrees.

23         (8)  Each board of trustees has authority for policies

24  related to students, enrollment of students, student records,

25  student activities, financial assistance, and other student

26  services.

27         (a)  Each board of trustees shall govern admission of

28  students pursuant to s. 1007.263 and rules of the State Board

29  of Education. A board of trustees may establish additional

30  admissions criteria, which shall be included in the district

31  interinstitutional articulation agreement developed according


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 1  to s. 1007.235, to ensure student readiness for postsecondary

 2  instruction. Each board of trustees may consider the past

 3  actions of any person applying for admission or enrollment and

 4  may deny admission or enrollment to an applicant because of

 5  misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the

 6  community college.

 7         (b)  Each board of trustees shall adopt rules

 8  establishing student performance standards for the award of

 9  degrees and certificates pursuant to s. 1004.68. The board of

10  trustees of a community college that is authorized to grant a

11  baccalaureate degree under s. 1007.33 may continue to award

12  degrees, diplomas, and certificates as authorized for the

13  college, and in the name of the college, until the college

14  receives any necessary changes to its accreditation.

15         (c)  Each board of trustees shall establish tuition and

16  out-of-state fees for approved baccalaureate degree programs,

17  consistent with law and proviso language in the General

18  Appropriations Act. However, a board of trustees may not

19  increase tuition and out-of-state fees as provided in s.

20  1009.23(4).

21         (d)(c)  Boards of trustees are authorized to establish

22  intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize

23  articulation pursuant to s. 1007.22.

24         (e)(d)  Boards of trustees shall identify their core

25  curricula, which shall include courses required by the State

26  Board of Education, pursuant to the provisions of s.

27  1007.25(6).

28         (f)(e)  Each board of trustees must adopt a written

29  antihazing policy, provide a program for the enforcement of

30  such rules, and adopt appropriate penalties for violations of

31  such rules pursuant to the provisions of s. 1006.63(1)-(3).


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 1         (g)(f)  Each board of trustees may establish a uniform

 2  code of conduct and appropriate penalties for violation of its

 3  rules by students and student organizations, including rules

 4  governing student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless

 5  otherwise provided by law, may include fines, the withholding

 6  of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with rules or

 7  payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension,

 8  or dismissal.

 9         (h)(g)  Each board of trustees pursuant to s. 1006.53

10  shall adopt a policy in accordance with rules of the State

11  Board of Education that reasonably accommodates the religious

12  observance, practice, and belief of individual students in

13  regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of

14  examinations and work assignments.

15         (i)  Each board of trustees shall adopt a policy

16  providing that faculty who teach upper-division courses that

17  are a component part of a baccalaureate program must meet the

18  requirements of s. 1012.82.

19         Section 2.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and

20  subsection (9) of section 1004.65, Florida Statutes, are

21  amended to read:

22         1004.65  Community colleges; definition, mission, and

23  responsibilities.--

24         (7)  A separate and secondary role for community

25  colleges includes:

26         (a)  Providing upper level instruction and awarding

27  baccalaureate degrees as specifically authorized by law. A

28  community college that is approved to offer baccalaureate

29  degree programs shall maintain its primary mission pursuant to

30  subsection (6) and may not terminate associate in arts or

31  


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 1  associate in science degree programs as a result of the

 2  authorization to offer baccalaureate degree programs.

 3         (9)  Community colleges are authorized to offer such

 4  programs and courses as are necessary to fulfill their mission

 5  and are authorized to grant associate in arts degrees,

 6  associate in science degrees, associate in applied science

 7  degrees, certificates, awards, and diplomas. Each community

 8  college is also authorized to make provisions for the General

 9  Educational Development test. Each community college may

10  provide access to and award baccalaureate degrees in

11  accordance with law.

12         Section 3.  Subsection (3) of section 1007.33, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended, present subsection (4) is redesignated

14  as subsection (6), and new subsections (4) and (5) are added

15  to that section, to read:

16         1007.33  Site-determined baccalaureate degree access.--

17         (3)  A community college may develop a proposal to

18  deliver specified baccalaureate degree programs in its

19  district to meet local workforce needs. The proposal must be

20  submitted to the State Board of Education for approval. The

21  community college's proposal must include the following

22  information:

23         (a)  Demand for the baccalaureate degree program is

24  identified by the workforce development board, local

25  businesses and industry, local chambers of commerce, and

26  potential students.

27         (b)  Unmet need for graduates of the proposed degree

28  program is substantiated.

29         (c)  The community college has the facilities and

30  academic resources to deliver the program.

31  


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 1  The proposal must be submitted to the Council for Education

 2  Policy Research and Improvement for review and comment. Upon

 3  approval of the State Board of Education for the specific

 4  degree program or programs, the community college shall pursue

 5  regional accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the

 6  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Any additional

 7  baccalaureate degree programs the community college wishes to

 8  offer must be approved by the State Board of Education.

 9  However, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules for a

10  community college that has been authorized under this

11  subsection to offer a specific baccalaureate degree program

12  approved by the State Board of Education, that has become

13  regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the

14  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer that

15  degree, and that has graduated the first class from the

16  authorized degree program to offer other baccalaureate degree

17  programs that will articulate a specific associate in science

18  degree with a specific bachelor's in applied science degree.

19  Such rules must address academic standards, articulation, and

20  a plan for financial support of the program and may not exempt

21  a community college from s. 1004.65(7) or subsection (4) or

22  from the requirement to notify in writing the accredited

23  public and private colleges and universities in the community

24  college's district of its intent to deliver the proposed

25  program.

26         (4)  A formal agreement for the delivery of specified

27  baccalaureate degree programs by a regionally accredited

28  public or private college or university at a community college

29  site must include:

30         (a)  A guarantee that students will be able to complete

31  the degree in the community college district;


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 1         (b)  A financial commitment to the development,

 2  implementation, and maintenance of the specified degree

 3  program on behalf of the college or university which includes

 4  timelines; and

 5         (c)  A plan for collaboration in the development and

 6  offering of the curriculum for the specified degree by both

 7  faculty at the community college and at the college or

 8  university. The curriculum for the specified degree must be

 9  developed and approved within 6 months, and the program shall

10  be implemented within 12 months, after the agreement between

11  the community college and the college or university is signed.

12         (5)  A community college proposal to deliver a

13  specified baccalaureate degree program must document that the

14  community college has notified in writing the accredited

15  public and private colleges and universities in the community

16  college's district of its intent to seek approval for delivery

17  of the proposed program. The notified colleges and

18  universities have 90 days to submit in writing to the

19  community college an alternative plan for providing the

20  specified degree program.

21         Section 4.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section

22  1009.23, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

23         1009.23  Community college student fees.--

24         (1)  Unless otherwise provided, the provisions of this

25  section applies apply only to fees charged for college credit

26  instruction leading to an associate in arts degree, an

27  associate in applied science degree, or an associate in

28  science degree, or a baccalaureate degree authorized by the

29  State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1007.33, and for

30  noncollege credit college-preparatory courses defined in s.

31  1004.02.


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 1         (2)(a)  All students shall be charged fees except

 2  students who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are

 3  waived.

 4         (b)  Tuition and out-of-state fees for upper-division

 5  courses must reflect the fact that the college has a less

 6  expensive cost structure than that of a state university.

 7  Therefore, the board of trustees shall establish tuition and

 8  out-of-state fees for upper-division courses consistent with

 9  law and proviso language in the General Appropriations Act.

10  However, the board of trustees may not increase tuition and

11  out-of-state fees as provided in subsection (4). Identical

12  fees shall be required for all community college resident

13  students within a college who take a specific course,

14  regardless of the program in which they are enrolled.

15         (3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt by

16  December 31 of each year a resident fee schedule for the

17  following fall for advanced and professional programs,

18  associate in science degree programs, baccalaureate degree

19  programs authorized by the State Board of Education pursuant

20  to s. 1007.33, and college-preparatory programs that produce

21  revenues in the amount of 25 percent of the full prior year's

22  cost of these programs. Fees for courses in

23  college-preparatory programs and associate in arts and

24  associate in science degree programs may be established at the

25  same level. In the absence of a provision to the contrary in

26  an appropriations act, the fee schedule shall take effect and

27  the colleges shall expend the funds on instruction.  If the

28  Legislature provides for an alternative fee schedule in an

29  appropriations act, the fee schedule shall take effect the

30  subsequent fall semester.

31  


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 1         Section 5.  Section 1011.83, Florida Statutes, is

 2  amended to read:

 3         1011.83  Financial support of community colleges.--

 4         (1)  Each community college that has been approved by

 5  the Department of Education and meets the requirements of law

 6  and rules of the State Board of Education shall participate in

 7  the Community College Program Fund. However, funds to support

 8  workforce education programs conducted by community colleges

 9  shall be provided pursuant to s. 1011.80. A community college

10  may request funds from the Legislature in the State Board of

11  Education legislative budget request for costs related to the

12  initiation of a new baccalaureate degree program. The request

13  for such funds may recognize the costs expected to be incurred

14  until the Legislature provides full-time equivalent recurring

15  funding based on actual FTE enrollment after the program has

16  served both a junior and senior class in the new baccalaureate

17  degree program. A community college that is authorized to

18  grant baccalaureate degrees under s. 1007.33 must receive

19  recurring operational funding:

20         (a)  As a community college for its workforce

21  development education programs and for its

22  lower-division-level college credit courses and programs

23  funded by the Community College Program Fund under this

24  section.

25         (b)  As a baccalaureate-degree-level institution for

26  its upper-division-level courses and programs. State support

27  for these programs may not exceed 85 percent of the amount of

28  state support per full-time equivalent student in a comparable

29  state university program. Funds appropriated for this purpose

30  may be used only for the baccalaureate degree programs.

31  


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 1         (2)  A community college that grants baccalaureate

 2  degrees shall maintain reporting and funding distinctions

 3  between any baccalaureate degree program approved under s.

 4  1007.33 and any other baccalaureate degree programs involving

 5  traditional concurrent-use partnerships.

 6         Section 6.  Subsection (2) of section 1013.60, Florida

 7  Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         1013.60  Legislative capital outlay budget request.--

 9         (2)  The commissioner shall submit to the Governor and

10  to the Legislature an integrated, comprehensive budget request

11  for educational facilities construction and fixed capital

12  outlay needs for school districts, community colleges, and

13  universities, pursuant to the provisions of s. 1013.64 and

14  applicable provisions of chapter 216. Each community college

15  board of trustees and each university board of trustees shall

16  submit to the commissioner a 3-year plan and data required in

17  the development of the annual capital outlay budget. Community

18  college boards of trustees may request funding for all

19  authorized programs, including approved baccalaureate degree

20  programs. Notwithstanding s. 1004.73(7) or any other provision

21  of law, such a request for funding must be submitted as a part

22  of the 3-year priority list for community colleges pursuant to

23  s. 1013.64(4)(a). Enrollment in approved baccalaureate degree

24  programs must be computed into the survey of need for

25  facilities. No Further disbursements may not shall be made

26  from the Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service

27  Trust Fund to a board of trustees that fails to timely submit

28  the required data until such board of trustees submits the

29  data.

30         Section 7.  Approval is granted for the endowment for

31  the Appleton Museum of Art, currently held by the Appleton


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 1  Cultural Center, Inc., to be transferred to the Central

 2  Florida Community College Foundation. The endowment to be

 3  transferred, which includes state matching funds, was

 4  established in 1987 through the Cultural Arts Endowment

 5  Program. By this provision, the Central Florida Community

 6  College Foundation is authorized to manage the endowment only

 7  for the support of the educational program at the Appleton

 8  Museum of Art and is released from all other provisions of the

 9  Trust Agreement dated July 17, 1987, by and between the State

10  of Florida and the Appleton Cultural Center, Inc., and

11  sections 265.601 through 265.607, Florida Statutes.

12         Section 8.  Subsection (12) of section 1009.23, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         1009.23  Community college student fees.--

15         (12)  In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial

16  aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and

17  technology fees authorized in this section, each community

18  college board of trustees is authorized to establish fee

19  schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory

20  fees; parking fees and fines; transportation fees; library

21  fees and fines; fees and fines relating to facilities and

22  equipment use or damage; access or identification card fees;

23  duplicating, photocopying, binding, or microfilming fees;

24  standardized testing fees; diploma replacement fees;

25  transcript fees; application fees; graduation fees; and late

26  fees related to registration and payment. Such user fees and

27  fines shall not exceed the cost of the services provided and

28  shall only be charged to persons receiving the service. A

29  community college may not charge any fee except as authorized

30  by law or rules of the State Board of Education. Parking fee

31  revenues may be pledged by a community college board of


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 1  trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of

 2  debt, including lease-purchase agreements and revenue bonds

 3  with terms not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful

 4  life of the asset being financed. Community colleges shall use

 5  the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State

 6  Board of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized

 7  by the provisions of this subsection. Any such bonds issued by

 8  the Division of Bond Finance shall be in compliance with the

 9  provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the

10  State Bond Act shall be validated in the manner established in

11  chapter 75. The complaint for such validation shall be filed

12  in the circuit court of the county where the seat of state

13  government is situated, the notice required to be published by

14  s. 75.06 shall be published only in the county where the

15  complaint is filed, and the complaint and order of the circuit

16  court shall be served only on the state attorney of the

17  circuit in which the action is pending.

18         Section 9.  Subsection (8) is added to section 1011.68,

19  Florida Statutes, to read:

20         1011.68  Funds for student transportation.--The annual

21  allocation to each district for transportation to public

22  school programs, including charter schools as provided in s.

23  1002.33(17)(b), of students in membership in kindergarten

24  through grade 12 and in migrant and exceptional student

25  programs below kindergarten shall be determined as follows:

26         (8)  Notwithstanding s. 1006.22(1) and (2), if an

27  isolated student attends a charter school governed by a

28  community college, the community college shall generate school

29  transportation funding according to ss. 1002.33(17)(b),

30  1011.62, and this section. A community college board of

31  trustees may include in its charter school contract a


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 1  provision for parent transportation of students which is

 2  consistent with s. 1002.33(20)(c), if the cost of the

 3  transportation service does not exceed the transportation

 4  funds generated by this chapter.

 5         Section 10.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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