SB102INTRODUCED
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SB102
9TDTMPB-1
By Senators Singleton, Allen, Reed, Smitherman,
Coleman-Madison
RFD: Finance and Taxation Education
First Read: 14-Feb-24
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6 9TDTMPB-1 02/13/2024 EBO-DHC EBO JT EBO-2024-20
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First Read: 14-Feb-24
SYNOPSIS:
This bill creates a program known as the Alabama
School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, Alabama;
provides legislative intent; provides definitions;
provides for the membership, powers, compensation, and
terms of a board of trustees; provides for programs and
the operation of the school; provides for
extracurricular activities; and prescribes eligibility
requirements.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To create a program known as the Alabama School of
Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, Alabama; to provide
legislative intent; to provide definitions; to provide for the
membership, powers, compensation, and terms of a board of
trustees; to provide for programs and the operation of the
school; to provide for extracurricular activities; and to
prescribe eligibility requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to
establish an independent, state-wide, residential school for
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establish an independent, state-wide, residential school for
academically and professionally motivated Alabama students
with educational opportunities and experiences in science,
technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) and in the
healthcare sciences to address the chronic healthcare
workforce shortage in Alabama.
Section 2. For the purposes of this act, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Education.
(2) SCHOOL. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.
(3) STATE BOARD. The State Board of Education.
(4) SUPERINTENDENT. The State Superintendent of
Education.
Section 3. (a) There is created a program to be called
the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences, which shall be a
residential institution located in Demopolis in Marengo
County, at a site to be determined by the board of trustees.
The school may open and formally begin operation with the fall
semester of 2026. The school shall be funded by the state from
monies appropriated for the school and grants, donations, and
funds from any other source including, but not limited to,
corporations, individuals, and foundations.
(b) The school shall be governed by a board of trustees
whose membership, powers, duties, and responsibilities shall
be as provided in this act.
(c) The school shall coordinate its programs and
curriculum with the department, but shall be independent of
the control of the superintendent, the state board, and any
local board of education except its board of trustees, unless
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local board of education except its board of trustees, unless
otherwise provided by this act.
Section 4. (a) There is created a board of trustees for
the school. The board of trustees shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) An assistant state superintendent in charge of
curriculum development with the department, or his or her
designee.
(2) The Chief Executive Officer of Whitfield Regional
Hospital, or his or her designee.
(3) The Chief Executive Officer of the Alabama Hospital
Association, or his or her designee.
(4) The President of the University of West Alabama, or
his or her designee.
(5) The President of the University of South Alabama,
or his or her designee.
(6) The President of the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, or his or her designee.
(7) The President of Auburn University, or his or her
designee.
(8) The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College
System, or his or her designee.
(9) The Chair of the Alabama School of Healthcare
Sciences Foundation Board of Directors.
(10) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Education
Committee, or his or her designee.
(11) The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation
Education Committee, or his or her designee.
(12) Eight members to be appointed by the Governor, one
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(12) Eight members to be appointed by the Governor, one
member from each congressional district and one member
appointed at large, who shall be a resident of Marengo County.
Five of the eight members appointed by the Governor shall have
a background in healthcare, public health, or healthcare
administration. The other three members appointed by the
Governor may include appointees with backgrounds in academia,
government, business, or other career fields that provide a
strong basis for service. The Governor shall make his or her
appointments so that diversity of gender, race, and
geographical areas is reflective of the makeup of this state.
(b) The terms of the eight members appointed by the
Governor shall be for six years, except for original
appointees who shall serve staggered terms with three
appointees serving two years, three appointees serving four
years, and two appointees serving six years. The terms of the
initial members who are elected officials, or their respective
designees, shall commence with their appointment, run
concurrently with their terms of office, and shall end when
their successors take office. The terms of members who are not
serving by virtue of an elected office shall commence with
their appointment and shall end when their successor is
appointed. All members may succeed themselves. No member shall
be appointed for more than three consecutive full terms.
Section 5. (a) The board of trustees may perform the
following functions:
(1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
financial assistance for educational purposes from any public
or private person or agency and comply with rules and
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or private person or agency and comply with rules and
regulations governing grants from the federal government or
from any other person or agency, which are not in
contravention of the constitution and laws.
(2) Purchase or lease real estate and equipment and
make improvements to facilities necessary for the use of the
school, in accordance with applicable law.
(3) Lease land or other property belonging to the board
of trustees or to the school.
(4) Sell or exchange land or other real property not
needed for school purposes, but only when specifically
authorized by law and then only in accordance with the
procedures provided for the sale of unused school lands. The
sale shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the board of
trustees, and the act of sale shall be signed by the president
of the board of trustees or such other person to whom the
signing may be delegated by the board of trustees in the
authorizing resolution.
(5) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the business
of the board of trustees.
(6) Award certificates and issue diplomas for
successful completion of programs of study. All certificates
and diplomas shall be in addition to a regular high school
diploma, which shall be issued by the state board in
accordance with state law to any student who successfully
completes the program of study adopted by the board of
trustees.
(7) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been
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(7) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been
recommended by the president of school, in accordance with
applicable law, and to the extent that funds are specifically
appropriated therefor, with other public agencies with respect
to cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or
associated with an educational purpose or program affecting
education in the school. This shall not preclude the board of
trustees from entering into other contracts and agreements
that the board of trustees may deem necessary to carry out the
duties and functions of the board of trustees.
(8) Perform such other functions as are necessary to
the supervision and control of those phases of education under
the board of trustees.
(b) The board of trustees shall delegate to the
president of school those powers and duties the board of
trustees deems appropriate to aid the president of school in
the efficient administration of his or her responsibility for
the implementation of the policies of the board of trustees.
(c) In addition to the authorities granted in this act
and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any
other applicable laws, the board of trustees shall perform all
of the following duties:
(1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary
for the efficient operation of the school.
(2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
eligibility of applicants for enrollment.
(3) Approve subjects and extracurricular activities to
be offered. Subjects shall initially be subject to approval by
the state board, and thereafter, changes in the subjects shall
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the state board, and thereafter, changes in the subjects shall
be subject to approval by the state board.
(4) Select a president of school who shall be the chief
executive officer of the school and who shall administer the
rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the board of
trustees pursuant to this act. The president of school shall
also be the chief administrative officer of the board of
trustees and shall be responsible for all the administrative
functions, duties, and needs of the board of trustees. Until
such time as the board of trustees selects a president of
school, the superintendent shall serve as the chief
administrative officer of the board of trustees and shall be
responsible for the duties of the president of school as they
relate to the board of trustees. The superintendent shall
relinquish administrative duties provided to the board of
trustees to the president of school when the president of
school officially assumes his or her duties with the board of
trustees.
(5) Oversee the staffing plan development and
implementation necessary for the efficient operation of the
school.
(6) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
the continued operation of the school.
(7) Pay the expenses, per diem, and travel expenses of
the board of trustees and its members, which shall be the same
as allowed state employees when the board member is traveling
on board business. The board shall also pay the salaries and
expenses including, but not limited to, facilities, equipment,
and supplies of the administration, faculty, and staff of the
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and supplies of the administration, faculty, and staff of the
school out of funds appropriated or otherwise made available
for the operating and administrative expenses of the board of
trustees and the school.
(8) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for
expenditure by the school and programs under its jurisdiction
all monies appropriated or otherwise made available for
purposes of the board of trustees and of the school and
programs.
(9) Oversee selection and use in the school free
textbooks and other materials of instruction for students
enrolled in the school and programs under its jurisdiction for
which the Legislature provides funds. Wherever practical, the
school shall select and the board of trustees approve the same
textbooks and other materials of instruction as are adopted by
the state board.
(10) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
rules, bylaws, and regulations for the discipline of students
and for the government of the school and programs under its
jurisdiction, which may not be inconsistent with the law and
which shall be enforced by the administration, staff, and
faculty of the school. Programs of study shall initially be
subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, any
changes in programs of study shall be subject to approval by
the state board.
(11) Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, prescribe the qualifications of educators at
the school, provided that any educator employed at the school,
who does not hold certification, shall hold an advanced
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who does not hold certification, shall hold an advanced
degree, or be acknowledged by the board of trustees as an
expert, in his or her field of instruction.
(12) Develop and adopt a formula or system under which
students shall be admitted. The formula or system shall be
sufficient to ensure that at least one qualified applicant for
admission from within the geographical boundaries of each
state senate district shall be eligible for admission to the
school each year. If no qualified applicant from a state
senate district applies for admission, then the slots
available to that senate district shall be lost to that senate
district for that school year and shall be reallocated by the
board of trustees to provide for the admission of qualified
applicants from other senate districts. Any provision of this
subdivision to the contrary notwithstanding, the board of
trustees shall admit additional students, utilizing admission
criteria provided by the adopted formula or system and as
resources and facilities allow, by also taking into
consideration the enrollment size of the city or county public
school systems in the state senate district of the student
applicant.
(13) Work with the Alabama Department of Education to
assist teachers, administrators, and superintendents across
the state to extend elements of the school’s curriculum and
other offerings to schools and programs across Alabama.
Assistance shall include, but not be limited to, workshops,
career conversations, and fostering communities of practice in
the areas of healthcare sciences.
(14) Adopt rules and regulations to provide for the
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(14) Adopt rules and regulations to provide for the
evaluation of any applicant who has not been evaluated but who
satisfies all other criteria for participation in the program.
(d) A majority of actively serving members of the board
of trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and all official action of the board of trustees
shall require the favorable vote of a majority of those
members present and voting. Members may participate by means
of telephone conference, video conference, or by similar
communications equipment so that all individuals participating
in the meeting may hear each other at the same time.
Participation by these means shall constitute presence in
person at a meeting for all purposes, including the
establishment of a quorum.
(e) Members of the board of trustees shall be
compensated for all actual vouchered expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties and functions as required by this
act. Expenses shall be paid by the president of school from
funds appropriated therefor by the Legislature and upon the
warrant of the board of trustees.
(f) The board of trustees shall serve as the local
educational agency for the school.
Section 6. (a) The school, at the discretion of the
board of trustees, shall operate on the same school year basis
as all other public schools in the state. Full-time students
shall be enrolled for the entire school year and may enroll in
the summer program.
(b) A summer program may be offered for full-time
students and for students who qualify to attend the school
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students and for students who qualify to attend the school
during that period.
(c) The school may also offer short courses, workshops,
seminars, weekend instructional programs, and other innovative
programs, which may be used to offer instruction to students
not enrolled as full-time students in the school.
(d) The school, at the discretion of the board of
trustees, may provide extension courses and campuses on the
campuses of other schools, colleges, and universities within
the state.
Section 7. Whenever possible, the school may offer such
extracurricular activities as may be found in any public
secondary school in the state.
Section 8. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as
to prohibit or prevent the board of trustees from accepting
federal funds or monies from any corporation or other private
contributor for use in operating the school or providing
programs by the school.
Section 9. It is not the intent of this Legislature to
conflict with existing or future programs of the Alabama High
School of Mathematics and Science, Chapter 26A of Title 16,
Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Chapter
26B of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975, or the Alabama School
of Cyber Technology and Engineering, Chapter 26D of Title 16,
Code of Alabama 1975.
Section 10. This act shall become effective on the
first day of the third month following its passage and
approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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