Bill Text: FL H0353 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Charter Technical Career Centers

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on State Universities & Private Colleges Policy (EPC) [H0353 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0353-Introduced.html

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HB 353

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to charter technical career centers;
3	creating the Charter Technical Career Center Associate in
4	Applied Science and Associate in Science Degrees Program;
5	providing a purpose for the program; authorizing charter
6	technical career centers to submit proposals to the State
7	Board of Education to offer specified associate in applied
8	science degree and associate in science degree programs;
9	authorizing charter technical career centers to offer such
10	degree programs through partnerships with community
11	colleges or direct authority; providing for certain
12	criteria to award the degrees on a limited basis;
13	requiring that the board adopt rules; requiring that a
14	participating charter technical career center implement
15	the program through a memorandum of agreement; prohibiting
16	a charter technical career center from requesting funding
17	for the initial costs associated with implementing the
18	degree programs for a specified amount of time after
19	receiving authorization; requiring that funding for
20	operational costs be at the same level as the funding for
21	workforce development programs; providing requirements for
22	participating charter technical career centers; providing
23	an effective date.
24
25	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27	Section 1. (1) The Charter Technical Career Center
28	Associate in Applied Science and Associate in Science Degrees
29	Program is created for the purpose of authorizing charter
30	technical career centers to offer associate in applied science
31	degree and associate in science degree programs in order to meet
32	local workforce needs. Charter technical career centers may
33	submit proposals to the State Board of Education to participate
34	in the program in their respective districts. Charter technical
35	career centers may offer the degree programs through
36	partnerships with community colleges or through direct authority
37	to award such degrees.
38	(2) After receiving and reviewing a charter technical
39	career center's proposal, the board may approve the proposal for
40	a substantive change in accreditation status and authority to
41	award specified associate in applied science and associate in
42	science degrees, on a limited basis, if an unmet workforce need
43	for graduates from such degree programs exists and there is the
44	availability of facilities, faculty, and other resources.
45	(3) The board shall adopt rules providing guidelines for
46	receiving, reviewing, and approving proposals submitted by
47	charter technical career centers. The rules must establish an
48	annual timeframe in which proposals are received. The rules must
49	also require that a presentation be made to assist the board in
50	its decision and that the Commissioner of Education make
51	recommendations based on the proposals.
52	(4) A charter technical career center that is authorized
53	to offer an associate in applied science degree program or
54	associate in science degree program shall implement the program
55	in accordance with a memorandum of agreement entered into
56	between the board and the center which outlines the expectations
57	for administrative oversight and accountability for the initial
58	and continued approval of the program.
59	(5) A charter technical career center may not request
60	additional funding for costs associated with the implementation
61	and start-up of the associate in applied science and associate
62	in science degree programs during the first 2 years after the
63	charter technical career center receives authorization to offer
64	such degree programs. Operational costs must be funded at the
65	same level as funding for workforce development programs.
66	(6) Each participating charter technical career center
67	shall:
68	(a) Maintain, as its primary mission, responsibility for
69	responding to the community's needs for postsecondary career
70	degree programs and workforce education programs;
71	(b) Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate
72	degree programs and workforce education programs; and
73	(c) Accept credit for courses meeting general education
74	prerequisite requirements which are earned in an approved
75	program at an accredited college or university.
76	(7) Each charter technical career center participating in
77	the program shall accept general education course credit from
78	colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
79	Schools for the first 3 years of the program to avoid
80	duplication of currently available courses.
81	(8) Upon approval by the State Board of Education and
82	pursuant to subsections (2) and (4), a charter technical career
83	center may use the designation "technical college" rather than
84	"center." Any charter technical career center that has used the
85	designation "college" may continue to use such designation after
86	July 1, 2010, and until the date of application for candidate
87	status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for
88	a period up to 2 years.
89	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.