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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
commerce authority; career landscape information
Purpose
Effective January 1, 2022, directs the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to annually collect, compile and transmit outlined career landscape information to each public Arizona high school and post the information on its website.
Background
The ACA promotes economic, community and workforce development. The ACA's duties include providing private sector leadership in growing and diversifying Arizona's economy through the support of statewide business expansion, retention, attraction, workforce development and job training (A.R.S. § 41-1502). The ACA reports on in-demand jobs in Arizona by industry and occupations, including wages and education on its website (ACA).
Graduates of an apprenticeship registered with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) or the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) receive a nationally recognized completion certificate (DES). DES and the U.S. DOL have a list of available apprenticeship programs available on their websites (DES; U.S. DOL).
Federal law requires higher education institutions that participate in federal financial assistance programs to disclose completion or graduation rates of certificate or degree-seeking, full-time students to prospective and enrolled students (20 U.S.C. § 1092).
A community college is an educational institution operated by a district board and that provides a program not exceeding two years' training in the arts, sciences and humanities beyond high school or vocational education (A.R.S. § 15-1401). A vocational program is a program completed by at least 25 persons that is: 1) operated by a community college district and designated as a vocational program; or 2) a licensed private vocational program that does not provide a baccalaureate degree (A.R.S. § 15-1831).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Directs the ACA, by December 1, to annually collect, compile and transmit the outlined career landscape information to each public high school in Arizona to distribute to students.
2. Includes, in the information the ACA must collect and compile:
a) the most in-demand jobs in Arizona, including the starting salary and required education level for each job; and
b) the completion rates of high school equivalency programs in Arizona, career and technical education programs and DES-approved and U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship programs.
3. Includes, in the information the ACA must collect and compile, the following for community colleges, each public university, and, as data is readily available through the U.S. Department of Education, vocational programs and private postsecondary institutions:
a) the average cost to attend;
b) the graduation rates;
c) the three-year student loan default rates;
d) the lowest to highest median monthly student loan payments among undergraduate fields of study; and
e) the lowest to highest median starting earnings among undergraduate fields of study of graduated individuals.
4. Requires, by October 1, all state agencies, each public university, community colleges, vocational programs and private postsecondary institutions to annually share data, reports and other information as requested by the ACA to fulfill the information requirements.
5. Requires the ACA to make the outlined career landscape information publicly available and post the information on its website.
6. Titles the act as Students' Right to Know Act.
7. Defines community college and vocational program.
8. Becomes effective on January 1, 2022.
House Action
COM 2/2/21 DPA 10-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/11/21 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 1, 2021
LB/MC/kja