SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2138
As Amended by House Committee on Education
Brief*
HB 2138, as amended, would establish the Career
Technical Education Credential and Transition Incentive for
Employment Success Act (Act). The Act would provide state
aid, subject to appropriations, for the reimbursement of
school districts, community colleges, and technical colleges
for the cost of administering career technical education (CTE)
credentials to high school students enrolled in CTE programs.
Eligible Educational Institutions
The bill would provide, subject to the availability of
appropriations, for payments to be made to a school district
or college who has students enrolled in grades 9 through 12
and who have obtained an approved CTE credential. The bill
would specify determination criteria for reimbursements and
distributions to schools and colleges (outlined below).
The bill would define the term “college” as meaning any
community college, technical college, or the Washburn
Institute of Technology.
Industry Sought Credential List
The bill would define the term “industry sought
credential” as a CTE credential that meets the following
criteria:
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org ●Repeatedly referenced in job postings; and
●Frequently referred to by employers in
communications with a school district as a CTE
credential in demand.
The bill would require the State Board of Education
(Board), on or before July 1, 2023, and on an annual basis
thereafter, to approve a list of industry-sought credentials.
The Board would be required to consult with the following
individuals when determining the list of credentials:
●Secretary of Labor;
●Secretary of Commerce; and
●Representatives of industries that recognize CTE
credentials.
The bill would further require the Board to conduct an
annual survey commencing on or before July 1, 2023, of all
CTE credentials offered by school districts and colleges
which meet the definition of “industry-sought credential.”
Payment Determination
The bill would require the Board to determine the
amount of payments to each educational institution in the
following manner:
●Determine the number of students enrolled in a
school district or college who obtained an approved
industry-sought CTE credential in the preceding
school year;
●Determine the total cost of assessment for each
such credential obtained by said students;
●Multiply the total cost determined in the previous
step by 1.2; and
2- 2138 ●Distribute these payments to school districts and
colleges at a time determined by the Board.
The bill would require the Board to certify to the Director
of Account and Reports the payment amounts due to each
school district or college. All funds owed to school districts
would be credited to the district’s career technical education
fund and such funds would be required to first be expended
upon the costs of assessments for CTE credentials. Funds
provided to colleges under the bill would be credited to the
college’s general fund and such funds would be required to
first be expended upon costs of assessments for CTE
credentials.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Education at the request of Representative Murphy.
House Committee on Education
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives of ESSDACK, Kansas
Association of Community College Trustees, Kansas
Association of School Boards, and State Board of Education.
The proponents generally stated the bill would help students
who completed CTE courses to be able to obtain their
credential regardless of whether the student or their family
could afford the cost of the assessment. The proponents
further stated that ensuring students could take credentialing
assessments following completion of CTE courses helps
address both the worker shortages and increases the value of
CTE courses already paid for by the State.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to expand the
entities that could receive reimbursement payments for CTE
3- 2138 credentials, as provided by the bill, to include community
colleges, technical colleges, and the Washburn Institute of
Technology. The amendment also specifies students must be
enrolled in high school (grades 9-12).
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill as introduced, the State Department of
Education (KSDE) stated the bill would require additional
State General Fund appropriations of $177,119 for FY 2024.
KSDE based its estimate on the current three year average of
CTE credentials received by high school students (1,433) by
the average cost of an industry recognized credential ($103).
Any fiscal effect from enactment of the bill is not reflected in
The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Recommendation.
Education; career technical education; Career Technical Education Credential and
Transition Incentive for Employment Success Act; state aid; school districts;
students; postsecondary
4- 2138