HB 7147

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to postsecondary education enhancements;
3	requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
4	Government Accountability to conduct a study of certain
5	enrollment forecasting models; requiring a final report;
6	requiring the Department of Education to conduct a review
7	of certain courses in the statewide course numbering
8	system and update the system as appropriate; requiring a
9	report; requiring nonpublic postsecondary institutions
10	that participate in statewide course numbering to provide
11	certain information in their catalogs; requiring the
12	department's website to include certain information;
13	requiring the department to review certain examinations
14	and recommend articulated acceleration mechanisms;
15	amending s. 1007.33, F.S.; identifying the areas in which
16	community colleges may propose to deliver baccalaureate
17	degree programs; removing requirement that proposal be
18	submitted to the Council for Education Policy Research and
19	Improvement for review; providing an effective date.
20
21	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23	Section 1.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
24	Government Accountability (OPPAGA) shall conduct a study of the
25	higher education enrollment forecasting models currently used in
26	the state. The study must analyze the current models and provide
27	options for improvements. The review shall specifically examine
28	ways to include Florida's changing demographics in the
29	forecasts. During the course of the study OPPAGA shall consult
30	with staff from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
31	A final report with recommendations shall be submitted to the
32	President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
33	Representatives by February 1, 2008.
34	Section 2.  (1)  The Department of Education shall conduct
35	a comprehensive review of the courses that are listed in the
36	statewide course numbering system to:
37	(a)  Identify courses that are listed in the system that
38	have not been taught at an institution for the preceding 5
39	years;
40	(b)  Identify courses of nonpublic postsecondary
41	institutions that may be inappropriately designated as
42	equivalent for purposes of transfer of credit; and
43	(c)  Update the statewide course numbering system as
44	appropriate based on these findings.
45	(2)  The Department of Education shall submit a report of
46	its findings and actions to the President of the Senate and the
47	Speaker of the House of Representatives by February 1, 2008.
48	(3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule to
49	the contrary, any nonpublic postsecondary institution, as a
50	condition of initial or continued participation in the statewide
51	course numbering system, shall identify in all of its catalogs,
52	printed or electronic, the specific courses offered by the
53	institution that are included in the statewide course numbering
54	system.
55	(4)  No later than July 1, 2008, the Department of
56	Education shall develop and maintain in the department's website
57	a listing of all courses in the statewide course numbering
58	system and the institutions that offer each course. The listing
59	shall be available to the public. Each institution that
60	participates in the statewide course numbering system shall
61	include in all of its catalogs, printed or electronic, a
62	statement advising the reader of the website address and its use
63	as a resource for information on the transferability of credits
64	to other Florida institutions.
65	Section 3.  No later than March 1, 2008, the Department of
66	Education shall review the Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)
67	and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
68	(DANTES) standardized subject area tests (DSST) and recommend to
69	the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors, the
70	President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
71	Representatives any examination that should be identified as an
72	articulated acceleration mechanism under s. 1007.27, Florida
73	Statutes. The department shall also identify the minimum scores,
74	maximum credit, and course or courses for which credit is to be
75	awarded for each examination recommended by the department.
76	Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 1007.33, Florida
77	Statutes, is amended to read:
78	1007.33  Site-determined baccalaureate degree access.--
79	(3)  A community college may develop a proposal to deliver
80	specified baccalaureate degree programs in the areas of teaching
81	and nursing and to deliver bachelor of applied science
82	workforce-related degrees in high need/high demand majors its
83	district to meet local workforce needs. The bachelor of applied
84	science degree is a workforce baccalaureate degree designed
85	primarily for associate in science degree holders desiring
86	career advancement or advanced technical training. The proposal
87	must be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval.
88	The community college's proposal must include the following
89	information:
90	(a)  Demand for the baccalaureate degree program is
91	identified by the workforce development board, local businesses
92	and industry, local chambers of commerce, and potential
93	students.
94	(b)  Unmet need for graduates of the proposed degree
95	program is substantiated.
96	(c)  The community college has the facilities and academic
97	resources to deliver the program.
98
99	The proposal must be submitted to the Council for Education
100	Policy Research and Improvement for review and comment. Upon
101	approval of the State Board of Education for the specific degree
102	program or programs, the community college shall pursue regional
103	accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
104	Association of Colleges and Schools. Any additional
105	baccalaureate degree programs the community college wishes to
106	offer must be approved by the State Board of Education.
107	Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.