ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ED DPA/SE 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 25-5-0-0

House: ED DPA 9-0-0-1

SB 1400: technical correction; child hearing programs

NOW: community colleges; noncredit workforce training

Sponsor: Senator Wadsack, LD 17

Caucus & COW

Overview

Adds noncredit workforce training full-time equivalent student enrollment (FTSE) in the calculation of a community college district's (CCD's) state aid and expenditure limitation.

History

There are two sets of criteria a CCD course may meet to be offered for credit. The first set of statutory criteria require the course to: 1) qualify students for a certificate or degree; 2) transfer to a college or university; 3) provide (or improve) a student's skills for employment or college course; or 4) provide continuing education and lifelong learning.

Alternatively, the second set of criteria stipulate a course may be offered for credit if it: 1) has a formal course outline; 2) evaluates students based on mastery of course objectives; 3) requires faculty teaching the course to meet CCD standards; 4) bases credits on the effort required of, and the competencies gained by, the students; 5) requires students to achieve prerequisite competencies; 6) is developed using the CCD's formal curriculum review process; 7) has an evaluation component; and 8) meets other CCD requirements. Currently, noncredit courses are courses that do not meet any of these statutory criteria. The financial responsibility of these courses is with the CCD (A.R.S. § 15-1410).

There are statutory formulas that annually determine a CCD's operating state aid and science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs state aid based on changes in the CCD's FTSE (A.R.S. §§ 15-1464, 15-1466). When determining these state aid amounts, statute requires the CCD's FTSE to be calculated according to a statutory formula that includes the total basic actual, additional short-term and open-entry, open exit and skill center FTSE counts (A.R.S. § 15-1466.01).

The state Constitution subjects each CCD to an annual expenditure limitation that is calculated based on FY 1980 CCD expenditures, adjusted for FTSE and inflation by the Economic Estimates Commission (EEC) (Ariz. Const. art. 9, sec. 21). Currently, a CCD's FTSE is calculated, for the purposes of determining the CCD's expenditure limitation, according to the total of basic actual, additional short-term and open entry, open exit and skill center FTSE counts.

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteThe Auditor General (OAG) must annually audit the FTSE reported by each CCD for all basic actual, additional short-term and open entry, open exit classes and skill center and adult basic education courses (A.R.S. § 15-1466.01).

Provisions

1.   Adds noncredit workforce training FTSE in the calculation of a CCD's state aid and expenditure limitation. (Sec. 1)

2.   Determines noncredit workforce training FTSE by dividing the total class attended clock hours or contact hours of individuals who complete vocational training by 640. (Sec. 2)

3.   Requires the OAG to audit noncredit workforce training FTSE for the purposes of determining a CCD's state aid. (Sec. 2)

4.   Assigns financial responsibility for courses that do not meet the criteria to be offered for credit or as a noncredit workforce training or career technical education (CTE) course to a CCD. (Sec. 1)

5.   Mandates a noncredit workforce training or CTE course that meets the criteria required for a course for credit and that is offered for contact hours instead of credit hours be:

a)   consistent with the Carl D. Perkins CTE Improvement Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening CTE for the 21st Century Act;

b)   included on the eligible training provider list maintained pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; or

c)   requested by a business or industry. (Sec. 1)

6.   Specifies, in the criteria for a course to be offered for credit, that the course must base the credit hours or contact hours, rather than only credits, awarded for course completion on the effort required of, and the competencies gained by, the students. (Sec. 1)

7.   Defines noncredit workforce training as a noncredit workforce training or CTE course that meets the prescribed requirements. (Sec. 2)

8.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

Amendments

Committee on Education

1.   Removes noncredit workforce training FTSE from the calculation of a CCD's state aid.

2.   Restores language that assigns financial responsibility of noncredit courses that do not meet the criteria to be offered for credit to the CCD.

3.   Specifies a noncredit workforce training or CTE course that meets the prescribed criteria may be requested pursuant to a formal agreement or contract with a business or entity, rather than industry.

4.   Requires a CCD to maintain noncredit workforce training enrollment records to support the actual contact hours of students in these courses.

5.   Instructs each CCD, by December 31, 2023, to report to the EEC any data or information necessary for the EEC to determine the CCD's student population for FY 1980.

6.   Directs the EEC to use the data or information received from the CCD to determine the CCD's expenditure limitation in accordance with statute.

7.   Repeals the student population data or information reporting requirement on July 1, 2024.

8.   Defines contact hours.

 

 

 

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                        SB 1400

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