HSB 533 (LSB 5229YC (6) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON COLLINS)

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing community colleges to offer a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Removing Education Access Challenges in Higher Education (REACH) Act”.
    Sec. 2.  Section 260C.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  13.  Degree programs that lead to baccalaureate degrees, as authorized in this chapter.
    Sec. 3.  Section 260C.2, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  “Community college” means a publicly supported school which may offer that does one or more of the following:
   a.  Offers programs of adult and continuing education, lifelong learning, community education, and up to two years of liberal arts, preprofessional, or occupational instruction partially fulfilling the requirements for a baccalaureate degree but confers no more than an associate degree; or which offers, except as provided in paragraph “c”.
   b.  Offers as the whole or as part of the curriculum up to two years of career and technical education, training, or retraining to persons who are preparing to enter the labor market.
   c.  Offers a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree and that satisfies all of the following requirements:
   (1)  Consists of programs of study or academic majors that lead to jobs that address a high-demand, sustained, and unmet workforce need within the community college region, as demonstrated by the current number of related job vacancies and employer support for such programs of study or academic majors, and as shown by the community college.
   (2)  The instruction provided in courses within the degree program is not delivered entirely over the internet.
    Sec. 4.  Section 260C.4, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  Adopt rules under chapter 17A prescribing standards and procedures for the authorization and oversight of baccalaureate degree programs offered by community colleges.
    Sec. 5.  Section 260C.14, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Have authority to determine tuition rates for instruction.
   a.  Tuition for residents of Iowa shall not exceed the lowest tuition rate per semester, or the equivalent, charged by an institution of higher education under the state board of regents for a full-time resident student. However, except for students enrolled under section 261E.6, if a local school district pays tuition for a resident pupil of high school age, the limitation on tuition for residents of Iowa shall not apply, the amount of tuition shall be determined by the board of directors of the community college with the consent of the local school board, and the pupil shall not be included in the full-time equivalent enrollment of the community college for the purpose of computing general aid to the community college.
   b.  Tuition for nonresidents of Iowa shall not be less than the marginal cost of instruction of a student attending the college. A lower tuition for nonresidents may be permitted under a reciprocal tuition agreement between a merged area and an educational institution in another state, if the agreement is approved by the director.
   c.  Tuition for residents of Iowa, for courses offered as part of a baccalaureate program, shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent of the tuition charged to such students under paragraph “a”.
   d.  The board may designate that a portion of the tuition moneys collected from students be used for student aid purposes.
    Sec. 6.  Section 260C.14, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  27.  If the community college will offer a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree, establish or modify any policies, seek any accreditation, and employ any staff necessary to offer such a degree program.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes community colleges to offer a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree and that satisfies all of the following requirements: the degree program consists of programs of study or academic majors that lead to jobs that address a high-demand, sustained, and unmet workforce need within the community college region as shown by the community college, and the instruction provided within the degree program is not delivered entirely over the internet. Under current law, community colleges may offer up to two years of liberal arts, preprofessional, or occupational instruction that partially fulfills the requirements for a baccalaureate degree but that confers no more than an associate degree.
   The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules prescribing standards and procedures for the authorization and oversight of baccalaureate degree programs offered by community colleges. The tuition for residents of Iowa for courses offered as part of a baccalaureate degree program at a community college shall not exceed 150 percent of the tuition charged to residents of Iowa for traditional community college courses. The boards of directors of community colleges are authorized to establish or modify any policies, seek any accreditation, and employ any staff necessary to offer a baccalaureate degree program.