Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07120 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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3	3	LCO No. 4025 1 of 8
4	4
5	5	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7120
6	6	January Session, 2019
7	7	LCO No. 4025
8	8
9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
11	11	EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
12	12
13	13
14	14	Introduced by:
15	15	(HED)
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18	18
19	19
20	20	AN ACT CONCERNING TH E CLOSING OF INSTITUTIONS OR
21	21	CAMPUSES WITHIN THE CONNECTICUT STATE CO LLEGES AND
22	22	UNIVERSITIES.
23	23	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
24	24	Assembly convened:
25	25
26	26	Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 10a-6 of the general statutes is 1
27	27	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2
28	28	passage): 3
29	29	(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish 4
30	30	policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, 5
31	31	the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak 6
32	32	State College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and 7
33	33	postsecondary education at the Connecticut State University System, 8
34	34	the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak 9
35	35	State College consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (3) 10
36	36	establish tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State 11
37	37	University System, the regional community-technical college system 12
38	38	and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate the 13 Raised Bill No. 7120
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40	40
41	41
42	42	LCO No. 4025 2 of 8
43	43
44	44	effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the regional 14
45	45	community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College in 15
46	46	accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close 16
47	47	institutions or campuses within the Connecticut State University 17
48	48	System [,] and the regional community-technical college system and 18
49	49	Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by 19
50	50	the board, provided (A) such recommended merger or closing of a 20
51	51	campus that is not a full-service campus, as defined in section 2 of this 21
52	52	act, shall require a two-thirds vote of the board [,] and [(B)] notice of 22
53	53	such recommended merger or closing shall be sent to the joint standing 23
54	54	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance [over] of 24
55	55	matters relating to higher education, [and to the General Assembly] 25
56	56	and (B) such recommended closing of an institution or a full-service 26
57	57	campus, as those terms are defined in section 2 of this act, is conducted 27
58	58	in accordance with the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of this act; (6) 28
59	59	review and approve mission statements for the Connecticut State 29
60	60	University System, the regional community-technical college system 30
61	61	and Charter Oak State College and role and scope statements for the 31
62	62	individual institutions and campuses of such constituent units; (7) 32
63	63	review and approve any recommendations for the establishment of 33
64	64	new academic programs submitted to the board by the state 34
65	65	universities within the Connecticut State University System, the 35
66	66	regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College, 36
67	67	and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide for the 37
68	68	initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs; (8) 38
69	69	develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs at the 39
70	70	Connecticut State University System, the regional community-40
71	71	technical college system and Charter Oak State College, and (B) 41
72	72	institutions within the Connecticut State University System and the 42
73	73	regional community-technical college system and enforce standards 43
74	74	through licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the 44
75	75	Governor and General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, 45
76	76	consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for the 46
77	77	Connecticut State University System, the regional community-47
78	78	technical college system and Charter Oak State College developed in 48 Raised Bill No. 7120
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84	84	accordance with the provisions of said section 10a-8; (10) review and 49
85	85	make recommendations on plans received from the Connecticut State 50
86	86	University System, the regional community-technical college system 51
87	87	and Charter Oak State College to implement the goals identified in 52
88	88	section 10a-11c; (11) appoint advisory committees with representatives 53
89	89	from public and independent institutions of higher education to study 54
90	90	methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public 55
91	91	institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction with The 56
92	92	University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher 57
93	93	education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (12) 58
94	94	evaluate (A) means of implementing the goals identified in section 10a-59
95	95	11c, and (B) any recommendations made by the Planning Commission 60
96	96	for Higher Education in implementing the strategic master plan 61
97	97	pursuant to section 10a-11b through alternative and nontraditional 62
98	98	approaches such as external degrees and credit by examination; (13) 63
99	99	coordinate programs and services among the Connecticut State 64
100	100	University System, the regional community-technical college system 65
101	101	and Charter Oak State College; (14) assess opportunities for 66
102	102	collaboration with The University of Connecticut and the independent 67
103	103	institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in 68
104	104	section 10a-11c; (15) make or enter into contracts, leases or other 69
105	105	agreements in connection with its responsibilities under this part, 70
106	106	provided all acquisitions of real estate by lease or otherwise shall be 71
107	107	subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; (16) be responsible for the 72
108	108	care and maintenance of permanent records of institutions of higher 73
109	109	education dissolved after September 1, 1969; (17) prepare and present 74
110	110	to the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals affecting 75
111	111	the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-76
112	112	technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (18) develop 77
113	113	and maintain a central higher education information system and 78
114	114	establish definitions and data requirements for the Connecticut State 79
115	115	University System, the regional community-technical college system 80
116	116	and Charter Oak State College; (19) report all new programs and 81
117	117	program changes at the Connecticut State University System, the 82
118	118	regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State 83 Raised Bill No. 7120
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122	122	LCO No. 4025 4 of 8
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124	124	College to the Office of Higher Education; and (20) undertake such 84
125	125	studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational 85
126	126	interests of the Connecticut State University System, the regional 86
127	127	community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College. 87
128	128	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) As used in this section and 88
129	129	sections 3 and 4 of this act: 89
130	130	(1) "Board" means the Board of Regents for Higher Education; 90
131	131	(2) "President" means the president of the Connecticut State 91
132	132	Colleges and Universities; 92
133	133	(3) "Institution" means any institution within the Connecticut State 93
134	134	University System and the regional community-technical college 94
135	135	system and Charter Oak State College; and 95
136	136	(4) "Full-service campus" means any facility where an institution 96
137	137	under the governance of the Board of Regents for Higher Education 97
138	138	offers programs leading to a degree or certificate and provides 98
139	139	students access to adequate equipment, library resources, academic 99
140	140	advising and other necessary instructional support services. 100
141	141	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The board shall develop 101
142	142	criteria to be used in any decision to close an institution or a full-102
143	143	service campus within the Connecticut State University System and 103
144	144	the regional community-technical college system and to close Charter 104
145	145	Oak State College. Such criteria shall be consistent with the following 105
146	146	goals: (1) The policy goals of the state system of higher education listed 106
147	147	in subsection (b) of section 10a-6 and section 10a-11c of the general 107
148	148	statutes, (2) to ensure that the residents of the geographic areas in 108
149	149	which an institution or full-service campus may be closing have access 109
150	150	to a conveniently located institution or full-service campus, (3) to 110
151	151	minimize the negative effects of such closing on students enrolled at 111
152	152	the institution or full-service campus and the community surrounding 112
153	153	institution or full-service campus, and (4) to preserve those programs 113
154	154	and fields of study which (A) are unique to the institution or full-114 Raised Bill No. 7120
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157	157
158	158	LCO No. 4025 5 of 8
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160	160	service campus that may be closing, or (B) serve specific industries, 115
161	161	employment needs or community needs in the state. 116
162	162	(b) Prior to approving the criteria developed pursuant to subsection 117
163	163	(a) of this section, the board shall hold one or more public hearings to 118
164	164	receive public comment on the criteria. The president and a majority of 119
165	165	the members of the board shall attend each public hearing. Not later 120
166	166	than fifteen days before the first public hearing, the board shall post on 121
167	167	its Internet web site and send to the electronic mail address on record 122
168	168	of all enrolled students and employees of each institution (1) a notice 123
169	169	of the time and place of each public hearing, (2) the criteria developed 124
170	170	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (3) a means for all 125
171	171	interested persons to submit written testimony or recommendations 126
172	172	regarding such criteria. 127
173	173	(c) Following the completion of all public hearings conducted 128
174	174	pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the board may amend the 129
175	175	criteria based on the oral and written testimony and recommendations 130
176	176	received through the public hearings. The criteria for closing an 131
177	177	institution or full-service campus, as amended through the public 132
178	178	hearing process, shall be approved by a majority vote of the board. Not 133
179	179	later than fifteen days after such approval, the board shall submit the 134
180	180	criteria, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 135
181	181	general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 136
182	182	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education 137
183	183	and shall post such criteria on its Internet web site. 138
184	184	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) If the board or the president 139
185	185	determines that it is necessary to close any institution or full-service 140
186	186	campus within the Connecticut State University System or the regional 141
187	187	community-technical college system or to close Charter Oak State 142
188	188	College, the board shall use the criteria approved pursuant to section 3 143
189	189	of this act to assess each institution, determine which institutions or 144
190	190	full-service campuses should be closed and develop a closure plan for 145
191	191	such institutions or full-service campuses. For each institution or full-146
192	192	service campus to be closed, the closure plan shall include, but not be 147 Raised Bill No. 7120
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196	196	LCO No. 4025 6 of 8
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198	198	limited to, (1) an explanation of the reasons for such closure, (2) the 148
199	199	annual net cost of keeping such institution or full-service campus 149
200	200	open, (3) the net savings of closing such institution or full-service 150
201	201	campus, (4) an explanation of how students currently enrolled at such 151
202	202	institution or attending such full-service campus may be able to 152
203	203	complete their degree or certificate with minimal impact, (5) an 153
204	204	explanation of how any program or field of study that (A) is unique to 154
205	205	such institution or full-service campus, or (B) serves specific industries, 155
206	206	employment needs or community needs in the state will be preserved, 156
207	207	and (6) recommendations for any alternatives to closing such 157
208	208	institution or full-service campus, including, but not limited to, tuition 158
209	209	increases or other cost savings. 159
210	210	(b) Prior to approving any closure plan developed pursuant to 160
211	211	subsection (a) of this section, the board shall hold one or more public 161
212	212	hearings at each institution or full-service campus for which a closing 162
213	213	is planned. The president and a majority of the members of the board 163
214	214	shall attend each public hearing. Not later than fifteen days before each 164
215	215	public hearing, the board shall post on its Internet web site and send to 165
216	216	the electronic mail address on record of all enrolled students and 166
217	217	employees of each institution or full-service campus for which a 167
218	218	closing is planned (1) a notice of the time and place of such public 168
219	219	hearing, (2) the closure plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of 169
220	220	this section, and (3) a means for all interested persons to submit 170
221	221	written testimony or recommendations. 171
222	222	(c) Following the completion of all public hearings held pursuant to 172
223	223	subsection (b) of this section, the board may amend the closure plan 173
224	224	based on the oral or written testimony and recommendations received 174
225	225	through the public hearings. If the board amends such closure plan to 175
226	226	include another institution or full-service campus, the board shall hold 176
227	227	an additional public hearing at such institution or full-service campus 177
228	228	in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. The closure plan, as 178
229	229	amended through the public hearing process, shall be approved by a 179
230	230	two-thirds vote of the board. Not later than fifteen days after such 180
231	231	approval, the board shall file the closure plan, along with its 181 Raised Bill No. 7120
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237	237	assessment of all the institutions using the approved criteria, with the 182
238	238	clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the General 183
239	239	Assembly and shall post the same on its Internet web site. The board 184
240	240	shall not close any institution or full-service campus until the closure 185
241	241	plan is accepted or deemed accepted by the General Assembly in 186
242	242	accordance with subsection (d) of this section. 187
243	243	(d) The General Assembly may reject the closure plan filed by the 188
244	244	board in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this 189
245	245	section by a majority vote of each house not later than thirty days or 190
246	246	three session days from the receipt of the plan, whichever is later. The 191
247	247	thirty-day period shall not begin or expire unless the General 192
248	248	Assembly is in regular session. For the purposes of this subsection, any 193
249	249	closure plan filed with the clerks while the General Assembly is not in 194
250	250	session shall be deemed filed on the first day of the next regular 195
251	251	session. If the plan is rejected by the General Assembly, the board may 196
252	252	conduct a new analysis of the institutions under the approved criteria 197
253	253	and develop a new closure plan in accordance with the provisions of 198
254	254	this section. If the General Assembly takes no action on the closure 199
255	255	plan, the board may implement the closure plan when the time for 200
256	256	legislative action, pursuant to this subsection, has elapsed. 201
257	257	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
258	258	sections:
259	259
260	260	Section 1 from passage 10a-6(a)
261	261	Sec. 2 from passage New section
262	262	Sec. 3 from passage New section
263	263	Sec. 4 from passage New section
264	264
265	265	Statement of Purpose:
266	266	To require the Board of Regents for Higher Education to establish a
267	267	plan, receive public comment and seek the approval of the General
268	268	Assembly prior to closing any institutions or campuses within the
269	269	Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.
270	270	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
271	271	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
272	272	not underlined.] Raised Bill No. 7120
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276	276	LCO No. 4025 8 of 8
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