General Assembly Raised Bill No. 969
January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4720
*04720_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 969
January Session, 2017
LCO No. 4720
*04720_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR'S HIGHER EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 10-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(b) The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, the members of said board, provided each student member (1) is on the list submitted to the Governor pursuant to section 10-2a, (2) is enrolled in a public high school in the state, (3) has completed eleventh grade prior to the commencement of his term, (4) has at least a B plus average, and (5) provides at least three references from teachers in the school the student member is attending. The nonstudent members shall serve for terms of four years commencing on March first in the year of their appointment. The student members shall serve for terms of one year commencing on July first in the year of their appointment. The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the chairperson of the Planning Commission for Higher Education and the chairperson of the technical high school system board shall serve as ex-officio members without a vote. Any vacancy in said State Board of Education shall be filled in the manner provided in section 4-19.
Sec. 2. Section 10a-1d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established [an Office of Higher Education] a division of higher education within the Department of Education. The [Office of Higher Education] division shall administer the programs set forth in sections 10-19g, 10-155d, 10a-10a, 10a-11, 10a-11a, 10a-17d, 10a-34 to 10a-34f, inclusive, 10a-35, 10a-166, 10a-168a, 10a-169a, 10a-169b and 10a-173. The [Office of Higher Education] division shall be responsible for approving any action taken pursuant to sections 10a-34 to 10a-34f, inclusive.
(b) [The Governor shall appoint an executive director of the Office of Higher Education in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive.] The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Planning Commission for Higher Education, established pursuant to section 10a-11b, as amended by this act, shall recommend a candidate for division chief of the division of higher education who shall be appointed by the State Board of Education. The [executive director] division chief shall have the responsibility for implementing the policies and directives of the [office] division and shall have additional responsibilities as the [board] State Board of Education, in consultation with the Planning Commission for Higher Education, may prescribe.
(c) The division of higher education may make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education for changes (1) in program administration, including, but not limited to, the programs described in sections 10-19g, 10-155d, 10a-10a, 10a-11, 10a-11a, 10a-17d, 10a-34 to 10a-34f, inclusive, 10a-35, 10a-166, 10a-168a, 10a-169a, 10a-169b and 10a-173, (2) in the provisions of sections 10a-34 to 10a-34f, inclusive, and (3) the operation of section 10a-10.
(d) The division of Higher Education shall serve as staff to the Planning Commission for Higher Education. The division shall report on the progress of and make recommendations regarding the implementation of the higher education strategic master plan for higher education in Connecticut, as described in section 10a-11b, as amended by this act, to the Planning Commission for Higher Education.
Sec. 3. Section 10-3a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There shall be a Department of Education which shall serve as the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. The department shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Education, whose appointment shall be recommended to the Governor by the State Board of Education for a term of four years to be coterminous with the term of the Governor. Such appointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-7, inclusive. The Commissioner of Education shall be the administrative officer of the department and shall administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the department in accordance with the policies established by the board.
(b) The State Board of Education shall organize the Department of Education into such bureaus, divisions and other units as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the department, and may, from time to time, create, abolish, transfer or consolidate within the department any bureau, division or other unit as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of said board. Upon such organization or reorganization the board shall adopt regulations pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54. The board may create such advisory boards as it deems necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the department.
(c) The Department of Education shall constitute a successor department, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, to the Office of Higher Education. Where any order or regulation of said department and office conflict, the State Board of Education may implement policies or procedures consistent with the provisions of this title and title 10a while in the process of adopting such policies or procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt such regulations is printed in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after implementation. Any such policies or procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted. The Commissioner of Education, in accordance with policies established by the State Board of Education, may appoint and remove members of the staffs of the division of higher education.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 10a-6 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and postsecondary education at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (3) establish tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close institutions within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board, provided (A) such recommended merger or closing shall require a two-thirds vote of the board, and (B) notice of such recommended merger or closing shall be sent to the committee having cognizance over matters relating to education and to the General Assembly; (6) review and approve mission statements for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College and role and scope statements for the individual institutions and campuses of such constituent units; (7) review and approve any recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs submitted to the board by the state universities within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College, and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide for the initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs; (8) develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College, and (B) institutions within the Connecticut State University System and the regional community-technical college system and enforce standards through licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College developed in accordance with the provisions of said section 10a-8; (10) review and make recommendations on plans received from the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (11) [appoint advisory committees with representatives from public and independent institutions of higher education to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction with The University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (12)] evaluate (A) means of implementing the goals identified in section 10a-11c, and (B) any recommendations made by the Planning Commission for Higher Education in implementing the higher education strategic master plan pursuant to section 10a-11b, as amended by this act, through alternative and nontraditional approaches such as external degrees and credit by examination; [(13)] (12) coordinate programs and services among the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; [(14)] (13) assess opportunities for collaboration with The University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; [(15)] (14) make or enter into contracts, leases or other agreements in connection with its responsibilities under this part, provided all acquisitions of real estate by lease or otherwise shall be subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; [(16)] (15) be responsible for the care and maintenance of permanent records of institutions of higher education dissolved after September 1, 1969; [(17)] (16) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals affecting the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; [(18)] (17) develop and maintain a central higher education information system and establish definitions and data requirements for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; [(19)] (18) report all new programs and program changes at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College to the Office of Higher Education; and [(20)] (19) undertake such studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational interests of the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College.
Sec. 5. Section 10a-11b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established a Planning Commission for Higher Education to develop and ensure the implementation of a higher education strategic master plan [for higher education] in Connecticut.
(1) The commission shall consist of the following voting members: (A) [Two members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall have experience as former administrators or faculty members in independent institutions of higher education in this state; (B) two members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a former administrator or faculty member of a regional community-technical college and one of whom shall be a former administrator or faculty member of The University of Connecticut; (C) two members appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a former administrator or faculty member of a state university in the Connecticut State University System and one of whom shall be a former administrator or faculty member of Charter Oak State College; (D) two members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall have experience in the field of arts and culture and one of whom shall have experience in the field of health care; (E) two members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives who shall have knowledge and expertise in science and technology; (F) two members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall represent state-wide business organizations; and (G) five members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall represent a nonprofit education foundation, one of whom shall have experience in university research and its commercial application and one of whom shall have experience in the field of education from prekindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive.] The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the president of The University of Connecticut, or their designees from the Board of Regents and Board of Trustees; (B) the provost of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the provost of The University of Connecticut; (C) the chair of the Board of Regents for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut, or the chairs' designees; (D) the president, vice president or chair of the board of a large independent institution of higher education in the state, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; (E) the president, vice president or chair of the board of a small independent institution of higher education in the state, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; (F) a representative from a private occupational school, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities based upon three recommendations by the Commissioner of Education; (G) a teaching faculty representative from the Connecticut State Universities, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; (H) a teaching faculty representative from the regional community-technical colleges, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; (I) a teaching faculty representative from The University of Connecticut, to be selected by the president of The University of Connecticut; (J) a teaching faculty representative from a private occupational school in the state, to be selected by the president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; (K) one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a large manufacturing employer in the state; (L) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a large financial or insurance services employer in the state; (M) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of an information technology or digital media employer in the state; (N) one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a small business employer in the state; (O) one member appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a health care employer in the state; and (P) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a small business employer in the state. The commission membership shall, where feasible, reflect the state's geographic, racial and ethnic diversity.
(2) The following persons shall serve as ex-officio nonvoting members on the commission: (A) The [president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the] Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Labor Commissioner, or their designees; (B) [the chairpersons of the boards of trustees and the chief executive officers of each constituent unit of the state system of higher education, or their designees; (C) the chairperson of the board and president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, or their designees; (D)] a member of the State Board of Education, as designated by the chairperson of the state board; (C) the superintendent of the technical high school system, or the superintendent's designee; (D) the chief executive officer of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, or the chief executive officer's designee; (E) the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement; and [(E)] (F) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee.
(3) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson from among the commission's members. The commission shall elect a [chairperson] vice-chairperson at its first meeting. Any vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority. The term of each appointed member of the commission shall be three years from the date of appointment. The commission members shall serve without compensation. [except for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.] The commission may seek the advice and participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The commission may, within available appropriations, retain consultants to assist in carrying out its duties. The commission may receive funds from any public or private sources to carry out its activities. The division of higher education, within the Department of Education, shall serve as staff of the commission.
(b) [In accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 10a-6, the] The commission shall develop and ensure the implementation of a higher education strategic master plan that:
(1) Examines the impact of demographic, workforce and education trends on higher education in the state;
(2) (A) Establishes numerical goals for 2015, [and] 2020 and 2025 to increase the number of people earning a bachelor's degree, associate degree or certificate, increases the number of people successfully completing coursework at the community college level and the number of people entering the state's workforce and eliminates the postsecondary achievement gap between minority students and the general student population, and (B) includes specific strategies for meeting such goals, as well as strategies for meeting the goals pursuant to [subdivision (2) of] subsection [(a)] (b) of section 10a-6 and section 10a-11c;
(3) Examines and recommends changes to funding policies, practices and accountability in order to (A) align policies and practices with the goals set forth in subsection (b) of section 10a-6 and section 10a-11c, including an evaluation of the use of strategic and performance-based incentive funding; (B) determine how the constituent units shall annually report to the General Assembly and the public in a transparent and thorough manner regarding each constituent unit's expenditures, staffing and state support, including the state appropriation, personnel expenses, personnel fringe benefits, capital improvement bonds and financial aid to students; [and] (C) improve coordination of appropriation, tuition and financial aid and seek ways to maximize funding through federal and private grants; and (D) develop methods to simplify and reduce duplication in the administrative functions of each constituent unit; and
(4) Recommends ways in which each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and independent institution of higher education in the state can, in a manner consistent with such institution's mission, expand such institution's role in advancing the state's economic growth.
(c) In developing the higher education strategic master plan, the commission shall review the plans pursuant to sections 10a-6, as amended by this act, and 10a-11. In addition, the commission may consider the following: (1) Establishing incentives for institutional performance and productivity; (2) increasing financial aid incentive programs, especially in workforce shortage areas and for minority students; (3) implementing mandatory college preparatory curricula in high schools and aligning such curricula with curricula in institutions of higher education; (4) seeking partnerships with the business community and public institutions of higher education to serve the needs of workforce retraining that may include bridge programs in which businesses work directly with higher education institutions to move students into identified workforce shortage areas; (5) establishing collaborative partnerships between public high schools and institutions of higher education; (6) implementing programs in high school to assist high school students seeking a college track or alternative pathways for post-secondary education, such as vocational and technical opportunities; (7) developing policies to promote and measure retention and graduation rates of students, including graduation rates for students who have transferred among two or more constituent units or public institutions of higher education; (8) developing policies to promote the Transfer and Articulation program and the Guaranteed Admission program statewide; (9) addressing the educational needs of minority students and nontraditional students, including, but not limited to, part-time students, incumbent workers, adult learners, former inmates and immigrants, in order to increase enrollment and retention in institutions of higher education; and [(9)] (10) addressing the affordability of tuition at institutions of higher education and the issue of increased student indebtedness.
(d) Not later than June 1, 2014, the commission shall submit a preliminary report on the development of the higher education strategic master plan and, not later than September 1, 2014, the commission shall submit the higher education strategic master plan, including specific goals and benchmarks for the years ending 2020 and 2025, together with any recommendations for appropriate legislation and funding to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, labor and appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, labor and appropriations, in accordance with section 11-4a, on the implementation of the plan and progress made toward achieving the goals specified in the plan. The commission may periodically suggest changes to the goals as necessary.
(f) Not later than January 1, [2016] 2018, for purposes of implementing the higher education strategic master plan pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the commission, in collaboration with the Office of Policy and Management, shall establish [working groups and consult with any existing working groups, commissions or task forces that may investigate and offer guidance on specific objectives identified by the commission or the office, including, but not limited to, outcomes-based financing and workforce development, the examination of which by the commission are essential to achieving the goals specified in the plan.] two standing subcommittees and may establish any working groups necessary to supplement the work of the subcommittees or work. The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the commission shall appoint the members of the standing subcommittees and working groups, and may appoint members to such standing subcommittees and working groups who are not members of the commission.
(1) One standing subcommittee shall focus on data, metrics and accountability, and build upon the work of the Higher Education Coordinating Council and Preschool through 20 and Workforce Information Network in its measures and data. Such measures shall be used to assess the progress of each public institution of higher education toward meeting the commission's goals. The subcommittee shall collaborate with the Labor Department to (A) produce periodic reports, capable of being sorted by student age, on the employment status, job retention and earnings of students enrolled in academic and noncredit vocational courses and programs, both prior to enrollment and after completion of such courses and programs, who leave the constituent units upon graduation or otherwise, and (B) develop an annual affordability index for public higher education that is based on state-wide median family income. The subcommittee shall submit annual reports to the commission and the constituent units.
(2) One standing subcommittee shall focus on the higher education strategic master plan, analyzing the plans submitted since 2014 and making recommendations to the commission on key areas. The commission may recommend key areas of focus each year and require the standing subcommittee to report to the commission on such key areas.
(g) The commission may appoint advisory committees with representatives from public and independent institutions of higher education to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public institutions of higher education and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c.
(h) The commission may review its goals and plans and determine how best to align its work with the work of the Higher Education Innovation and Entrepreneurship Working Group and the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee, established pursuant to sections 32-39s and 32-39t.
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 10a-55i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) There is established a Higher Education Consolidation Committee which shall be convened by the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education or such chairpersons' designee, who shall be a member of such joint standing committee. The membership of the Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall consist of the higher education subcommittee on appropriations and the chairpersons, vice chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and appropriations. The Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall establish a meeting and public hearing schedule for purposes of receiving updates from (1) the Board of Regents for Higher Education on the progress of the consolidation of the state system of higher education pursuant to this section, section 4-9c, subsection (g) of section 5-160, section 5-199d, subsection (a) of section 7-323k, subsection (a) of section 7-608, subsection (a) of section 10-9, section 10-155d, subdivision (14) of section 10-183b, sections 10a-1a to 10a-1d, inclusive, as amended by this act, 10a-3 and 10a-3a, [subsection (a) of section 10a-6a, sections 10a-6b,] sections 10a-8, 10a-10a to 10a-11a, inclusive, 10a-17d and 10a-22a, subsections (f) and (h) of section 10a-22b, subsections (c) and (d) of section 10a-22d, sections 10a-22h and 10a-22k, subsection (a) of section 10a-22n, sections 10a-22r, 10a-22s, 10a-22u, 10a-22v, 10a-22x and 10a-34 to 10a-35a, inclusive, subsection (a) of section 10a-48a, sections 10a-71 and 10a-72, subsections (c) and (f) of section 10a-77, section 10a-88, subsection (a) of section 10a-89, subsection (c) of section 10a-99 and sections 10a-102, 10a-104, 10a-105, 10a-109e, 10a-143 and 10a-168a, and (2) the Board of Regents for Higher Education and The University of Connecticut on the program approval process for the constituent units. The Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall convene its first meeting on or before September 15, 2011, and meet not less than once every two months.
Sec. 7. Sections 10-69a, 10a-6a, 10a-6b, 17b-277a and 17b-277b of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2017)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2017 10-1(b)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2017 10a-1d
Sec. 3 July 1, 2017 10-3a
Sec. 4 July 1, 2017 10a-6(a)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2017 10a-11b
Sec. 6 July 1, 2017 10a-55i(a)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2017 Repealer section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
July 1, 2017
10-1(b)
Sec. 2
July 1, 2017
10a-1d
Sec. 3
July 1, 2017
10-3a
Sec. 4
July 1, 2017
10a-6(a)
Sec. 5
July 1, 2017
10a-11b
Sec. 6
July 1, 2017
10a-55i(a)
Sec. 7
July 1, 2017
Repealer section
Statement of Purpose:
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]