HB 2034
Initials CH/MR Page 1 Senate Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DPA 7-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 50-9-1-0
Senate ED DPA 6-2-0-0 | 3rd Read 22-7-1-0
HB 2034: CTEDs; associate degrees
Sponsor: Representative Udall, LD 25
Senate Engrossed
Overview
Allows career technical education districts (CTEDs) to offer accredited associate degrees.
History
A CTED offers career technical education (CTE) courses that must: 1) be taught by a certified
instructor; 2) be part of a program that requires students to obtain at least a 60% on a competency
assessment; 3) be part of an approved CTED program; 4) require the majority of instructional time
to be conducted in a laboratory, field-based or work-based learning environment; 5) demonstrate
a need for extra funding; and 6) require specialized equipment and materials. Additionally, a CTE
course must be approved by the Career and Technical Education Division of the Arizona
Department of Education (ADE) (A.R.S. § 15-391).
The in-demand regional education list, compiled annually by the Office of Economic Opportunity
(OEO) and ADE, is a listing of approved CTE programs that lead to a career path in high demand
with median-to-high wage jobs by region. OEO is required to incorporate industry feedback when
developing the in-demand regional education list and must also submit the list to the Arizona
Career and Technical Education Quality Commission for review and approval (A.R.S. § 15-393).
Provisions
1. Permits a CTED to offer associate degrees that are accredited by a regional accreditation
agency approved by the United States Department of Education. (Sec. 1)
2. Directs a CTED seeking to offer an associate degree program to apply for accreditation from
a regional accreditation agency beginning on the effective date of this act. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires a CTED offering an associate degree program to meet all applicable regional
accreditation and state licensure requirements. (Sec. 1)
4. Specifies a CTED may only offer associate degrees for CTED programs that are on the in-
demand regional education list. (Sec. 1)
5. Directs a CTED to determine whether to offer an associate degree program based on:
a) Industry demand for the program;
b) A financial analysis that shows the impacts to initiate and sustain the program;
c) Whether the program would unnecessarily duplicate degree programs offered by other
Arizona higher education institutions; and
d) The ability for the CTED to support the program. (Sec. 1)
6. Instructs a CTED that is developing an associate degree program to notify a public university
or community college that has a main campus in the same county at least 60 days before
submitting its report to the CTE board. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2034
Initials CH/MR Page 2 Senate Engrossed
7. Allows, within 30 days after the CTED submits the notice, the public university or community
college to provide a written response to the CTE board for its review. (Sec. 1)
8. Specifies a university or community college cannot prevent a CTED from offering an associate
degree program. (Sec. 1)
9. Requires, before a CTE board authorizes an associate degree program, the CTED to submit
a report to the CTE board that contains:
a) The name of the program;
b) The academic department that will offer the program;
c) The instructional modality;
d) The total necessary credit hours;
e) The proposed inception term;
f) A brief description of the program;
g) A learning outcomes and assessment plan;
h) The projected enrollment by year for the first three years of the program;
i) Evidence of market demand;
j) Similar degree programs offered at other Arizona higher education institutions;
k) The new resources required;
l) Any written responses provided by a public university or community college; and
m) Proof of transferability of credits earned. (Sec. 1)
10. Mandates each CTED that offers an associate degree program to submit a report to the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) by October 1 of the fifth year after initially offering the
associate degree program that includes:
a) Data regarding applicants;
b) Costs of each program;
c) Current workforce demand trends that require associate degrees in each program offered;
d) Current completion and continuation rates;
e) The extent to which each program fulfills identified workforce needs;
f) For each program, the costs to students, the amount of financial aid offered and the
student debt levels of graduates; and
g) Time-to-degree and completion rates. (Sec. 1)
11. Instructs each CTED that offers an associate degree program to report by December 1
annually and to specified entities:
a) The total number of students pursuing an associate degree;
b) The total number of associate degrees completed;
c) Workforce data showing demand for each program; and
d) The average cost of tuition per credit hour for each program. (Sec. 1)
12. Contains a legislative findings clause. (Sec. 2)
Senate Amendments
1. Adds that a CTED may offer associate degrees that are accredited by national accreditation
agency approved by the United States Department of Education.
2. Authorizes a CTED offering an associate degree program to meet all applicable regional or
national accreditation requirements.
3. Directs each CTED offering an associate degree program to provide a student, at the time of
enrollment, with a list of institutions to which the student's associate degree is transferrable.