HF 293 (LSB 2174YH (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 293

BY  WILLS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to programs offered by community colleges that duplicate existing programs provided by private educational institutions or vocational institutions offering a career and technical education program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 260C.14, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Determine the curriculum to be offered in such school or college subject to approval of the director and ensure that all career and technical education offerings are competency-based, provide any minimum competencies required by the department of education, comply with any applicable requirements in chapter 258, and are articulated with local school district career and technical education programs. If an existing private educational institution or an existing vocational institution offering a career and technical education program within the merged area has facilities and curriculum of adequate size and quality which would duplicate the functions of the area school, the board of directors shall discuss with the institution the possibility of entering into contracts to have the existing institution offer facilities and curriculum to students of the merged area not duplicate an existing program provided by the private educational institution or the vocational institution. The board of directors shall consider any proposals submitted by the private institution for providing such facilities and curriculum. The board of directors may enter into such contracts. In approving curriculum, the director shall ascertain that all courses and programs submitted for approval are needed and that the curriculum being offered by an area school does not duplicate programs provided by existing public or private facilities in the area. In determining whether duplication would actually exist, the director shall consider the needs of the area and consider whether the proposed programs are competitive as to size, quality, tuition, purposes, and area coverage with existing public and private educational or vocational institutions within the merged area. If the board of directors of the merged area chooses not to enter into contracts with private institutions under this subsection, the board shall submit a list of reasons why contracts to avoid duplication were not entered into and an economic impact statement relating to the board’s decision.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to programs offered by community colleges that duplicate existing programs provided by private educational institutions or vocational institutions offering a career and technical education program.
   Current law provides that if an existing private educational institution or an existing vocational institution offering a career and technical education program within a community college’s area has facilities and curriculum of adequate size and quality that would duplicate the functions of the community college, the board of directors of the community college is required to discuss with the institution the possibility of entering into contracts to have the existing institution offer facilities and curriculum to students of the community college. Current law also provides that if the board elects not to enter into such contracts, the board is required to submit a list of reasons why contracts to avoid duplication were not entered into and an economic impact statement. Current law establishes standards the members of the board are required to consider when determining whether such duplication exists. The bill strikes these provisions. The bill provides that if an institution has facilities and curriculum of adequate size and quality that would duplicate the functions of the community college, the board shall not duplicate an existing program provided by the institution.