Arizona 2023 2023 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1400 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 03/24/2023

                      	SB 1400 
Initials CH 	Page 1 	Education 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-sixth Legislature 
First Regular Session 
Senate: ED DPA/SE 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 25-5-0-0 
 
SB 1400: technical correction; child hearing programs 
NOW: community colleges; noncredit workforce training 
Sponsor: Senator Wadsack, LD 17 
Committee on Education 
Overview 
Adds noncredit workforce training full-time equivalent student enrollment (FTSE) in the calculation 
of a community college district's (CCD's) state aid and expenditure limitation.  
History 
There are two sets of criteria a CCD course may meet to be offered for credit. The first set of 
statutory criteria require the course to: 1) qualify students for a certificate or degree; 2) transfer to 
a college or university; 3) provide (or improve) a student's skills for employment or college course; 
or 4) provide continuing education and lifelong learning.  
Alternatively, the second set of criteria stipulate a course may be offered for credit if it: 1) has a 
formal course outline; 2) evaluates students based on mastery of course objectives; 3) requires 
faculty teaching the course to meet CCD standards; 4) bases credits on the effort required of, and 
the competencies gained by, the students; 5) requires students to achieve prerequisite 
competencies; 6) is developed using the CCD's formal curriculum review process; 7) has an 
evaluation component; and 8) meets other CCD requirements. Currently, noncredit courses are 
courses that do not meet any of these statutory criteria. The financial responsibility of these 
courses is with the CCD (A.R.S. § 15-1410).  
There are statutory formulas that annually determine a CCD's operating state aid and science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs state aid based on changes 
in the CCD's FTSE (A.R.S. §§ 15-1464, 15-1466). When determining these state aid amounts, 
statute requires the CCD's FTSE to be calculated according to a statutory formula that includes 
the total basic actual, additional short-term and open-entry, open exit and skill center FTSE counts 
(A.R.S. § 15-1466.01).  
The state Constitution subjects each CCD to an annual expenditure limitation that is calculated 
based on FY 1980 CCD expenditures, adjusted for FTSE and inflation (Ariz. Const. art. 9, sec. 
21). Currently, a CCD's FTSE is calculated, for the purposes of determining the CCD's 
expenditure limitation, according to the total of basic actual, additional short-term and open entry, 
open exit and skill center FTSE counts. 
The Auditor General (OAG) must annually audit the FTSE reported by each CCD for all basic 
actual, additional short-term and open entry, open exit classes and skill center and adult basic 
education courses (A.R.S. § 15-1466.01).  
Provisions 
1. Adds noncredit workforce training FTSE in the calculation of a CCD's state aid and 
expenditure limitation. (Sec. 1) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note    	SB 1400 
Initials CH 	Page 2 	Education 
2. Determines noncredit workforce training FTSE by dividing the total class attended clock hours 
or contact hours of individuals who complete vocational training by 640. (Sec. 2) 
3. Requires the OAG to audit noncredit workforce training courses FTSE. (Sec. 2) 
4. Assigns financial responsibility for courses that do not meet the criteria to be offered as a 
course for credit or as a noncredit workforce training or career technical education (CTE) 
course that meets prescribed requirements to a CCD. (Sec. 1) 
5. Mandates a noncredit workforce training or CTE course that meets the criteria required for a 
course that is offered for credit and that is offered for contact hours instead of credit hours be: 
a) consistent with the Carl D. Perkins CTE Improvement Act of 2006, as amended by the 
Strengthening CTE for the 21st Century Act;  
b) included on the eligible training provider list maintained pursuant to the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act; or  
c) requested by a business or industry. (Sec. 1) 
6. Specifies, in the criteria for a course offered for credit, that the course must base the credit 
hours or contact hours, rather than only credits, awarded for course completion on the effort 
required of, and the competencies gained by, the students. (Sec. 1) 
7. Defines noncredit workforce training as a noncredit workforce training or CTE course that 
meets statutory requirements. (Sec. 2) 
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)