KS
Kansas Senate Bill SB519

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB519

Introduced
2/15/24  
Refer
2/16/24  

Caption

Requiring technical colleges to affiliate with a state educational institution or municipal university.

Impact

If enacted, SB519 will significantly alter the organizational structure of technical colleges in Kansas. By requiring these institutions to align with state educational bodies, the bill intends to improve educational offerings and operational efficiency. It is designed to facilitate the accessibility of career technical education programs to a wider range of students, including those who may not meet traditional admission criteria for degree programs. The bill allows for degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students in technical education programs to bypass certain admission requirements, thereby expanding educational opportunities.

Summary

Senate Bill 519 is a legislative measure that mandates all technical colleges in Kansas to affiliate with a state educational institution or municipal university by July 1, 2026. The bill is aimed at enhancing the coordination and integration between technical colleges and larger educational institutions, thereby streamlining operations and resources. The affiliation will allow technical colleges to change their official designations and transfer their governing powers and duties to the partnering state university or municipal university they affiliate with, ensuring better oversight and consistency in educational standards.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB519 include the concerns of local governance and the fear that increased control from state educational institutions could dilute the unique missions of technical colleges tailored to meet local workforce needs. Critics may argue that such a standardized approach could ignore specific local employment realities and community needs, hampering innovation and responsiveness at the local level. The affiliation requirement raises questions about the administrative and operational adjustments that technical colleges will need to navigate, including potential shifts in funding and staffing.

Latest SB519 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB293

Authorizing technical and community colleges to affiliate with universities.

KS SB298

Authorizing technical colleges and community colleges to affiliate with universities.

KS HB2290

Authorizing the affiliation of northwest Kansas technical college and north central Kansas technical college with Fort Hays state university.

KS HB07120

An Act Concerning The Closing Of Institutions Or Campuses Within The Connecticut State Colleges And Universities.

KS HB06403

An Act Requiring Legislative Approval For The Merger Or Closing Of Institutions Within The Connecticut State Colleges And Universities.

KS HB05113

An Act Requiring Legislative Approval For The Merger Or Closing Of Institutions Within The Connecticut State Colleges And Universities.

KS SB00749

An Act Requiring Legislative Approval For The Merger Or Closing Of Institutions Within The Connecticut State Colleges And Universities.

KS HB05300

An Act Requiring Legislative Approval For The Merger Or Closing Of Institutions Within The Connecticut State Colleges And Universities And Prohibiting The Consolidation Of The Regional Community-technical Colleges.

KS AB370

Guaranteed admission to University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges and requiring high schools to prepare class rankings for certain pupils. (FE)

KS SB367

Guaranteed admission to University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges and requiring high schools to prepare class rankings for certain pupils. (FE)

Similar Bills

KS SB293

Authorizing technical and community colleges to affiliate with universities.

KS SB552

Enacting the Kansas campus restoration act to address deferred maintenance and demolition of facilities at postsecondary educational institutions, establishing the Kansas campus restoration fund in the state treasury and authorizing certain transfers from the state general fund to such fund.

KS SB298

Authorizing technical colleges and community colleges to affiliate with universities.

KS SB18

Enacting the Kansas campus restoration act to address deferred maintenance and demolition of facilities at postsecondary educational institutions, establishing the Kansas campus restoration fund in the state treasury and authorizing certain transfers from the state general fund to such fund.

KS SB102

Establishing residency criteria for students of technical colleges.

KS SB378

Establishing the Kansas trade service scholarship act and making appropriations to the state board of regents for fiscal year 2025 to provide grants to community colleges, technical colleges and the Washburn institute of technology for capital improvements, repairs and maintenance of trade program buildings.

KS SB91

Enacting the Kansas film and digital media industry production development act, providing a tax credit, sales tax exemption and loans and grants to incentivize film, video and digital media production in Kansas, establishing a program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of developing such production in Kansas and requiring the secretary of commerce to issue reports on the economic impact of the act.

KS SB84

Including individuals who receive a high school equivalency (HSE) credential in performance-based payments for certain postsecondary educational institutions.