Senate Bill sb1190c1
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
By the Committee on Appropriations and Senator Sullivan
309-1689B-01
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to higher education; providing
3 Legislative intent; redesignating St.
4 Petersburg Junior College as "St. Petersburg
5 College"; requiring accreditation; providing a
6 mission; providing for students and fees;
7 providing conditional authority to offer
8 baccalaureate-degree-level programs;
9 authorizing certain baccalaureate-degree
10 programs and a process for increasing their
11 number; establishing a governing board and a
12 coordinating board; providing for dispute
13 resolution; providing for certain employment
14 classifications; providing for the acquisition
15 of land, buildings, and equipment; authorizing
16 the power of eminent domain; providing for
17 state funding; requiring a cost-accounting
18 process; providing an effective date.
19
20 WHEREAS, in the past 10 years, Florida has aggressively
21 pursued strategies to increase the number of citizens who
22 complete a high-quality baccalaureate degree program,
23 including the allocation of over $575 million to build a new
24 university, add branch campuses and centers for existing
25 universities, create joint-use facilities in cooperation with
26 community colleges, and increase the use of technology, and
27 WHEREAS, despite these efforts, Florida continues to
28 rank among the lowest in the nation in the production of
29 baccalaureate degrees, especially in the fields experiencing
30 the greatest workforce demand, and
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 WHEREAS, these high-demand fields include teachers,
2 health care professionals, and qualified managers for private
3 firms and public service agencies, including agencies that
4 protect public safety, and
5 WHEREAS, Pinellas County is Florida's most densely
6 populated county and is experiencing great need for these
7 professionals, and it has no free-standing state university,
8 and
9 WHEREAS, Pinellas County is home to more than twice as
10 many college-age citizens as the number who live in four of
11 the counties that have free-standing state universities, and
12 WHEREAS, enrollment at the College University Center at
13 St. Petersburg Junior College has increased to 725 students in
14 only 1 year of operation, providing positive proof that the
15 area can benefit from innovative access to
16 baccalaureate-degree education that is affordable and
17 convenient to students who are working full time, NOW
18 THEREFORE,
19
20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22 Section 1. Legislative intent.--The Legislature
23 intends to create an innovative means to increase access to
24 baccalaureate-degree-level education in populous counties that
25 are underserved by public baccalaureate-degree-granting
26 institutions. This education is intended to address the
27 state's workforce needs, especially the need for teachers,
28 nurses, and business managers in agencies and firms that
29 require expertise in technology.
30 Section 2. St. Petersburg College; mission.--St.
31 Petersburg Junior College is redesignated as St. Petersburg
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 College. The college shall immediately seek accreditation from
2 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a
3 baccalaureate-degree-granting college.
4 (1) The primary mission of St. Petersburg College is
5 to provide high-quality undergraduate education at an
6 affordable price for students and the state. The purpose is to
7 promote economic development by preparing people for
8 occupations that require a bachelor's degree and are in demand
9 by existing or emerging public and private employers in this
10 state.
11 (2) The college is to maintain the mission and
12 policies of a Florida community college, including the
13 open-door admissions policy and the authority to offer all
14 programs consistent with a public community college's
15 authority.
16 (3) St. Petersburg College shall maintain the
17 distinction between the college and its university center. St.
18 Petersburg College is limited to community college programs
19 and to selected baccalaureate-degree-level programs that meet
20 community needs and are authorized as provided by this act.
21 The University Center may make available more diverse program
22 offerings, but those programs are offered by a participating
23 college or university and are not to be classified or funded
24 as a program of St. Petersburg College.
25 (4) The academic policies of the upper-division
26 program at St. Petersburg College must be in accordance with
27 policies of the State University System.
28 (5) Sections 240.293 and 240.2945, Florida Statutes,
29 apply to St. Petersburg College.
30 Section 3. St. Petersburg College; students.--
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 (1) St. Petersburg College shall maintain separate
2 records for students who are enrolled in courses classified in
3 the upper division and lower division of a baccalaureate
4 program, according to the Common Course Numbering System. A
5 student shall be reported as a community college student for
6 enrollment in a lower-division course and as a
7 baccalaureate-degree-program student for enrollment in an
8 upper-division course.
9 (2) The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College
10 shall establish the level of matriculation, tuition, and other
11 authorized student fees.
12 (a) For each credit hour of enrollment in a
13 certificate-level course or lower-division-level college
14 credit course, matriculation and tuition fees must be within
15 the range authorized in law and rule for a community college
16 student at that level.
17 (b) For each credit hour of enrollment in an
18 upper-division-level course, matriculation and tuition fees
19 must be in an amount established by the Board of Trustees of
20 St. Petersburg College. However, fees for upper-division
21 students must reflect the fact that the college does not incur
22 the costs of major research programs. Therefore, the board
23 shall establish fees for upper-division students within a
24 range that is lower than the fees established for students at
25 a public university but higher than the fees for community
26 college students.
27 (c) Other mandatory fees and local fees must be at the
28 same level for all lower division students. For upper division
29 students, other mandatory fees and local fees must be at a
30 level less than fees established for University of South
31 Florida students, regardless of program enrollment or level.
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 However, students in workforce development education courses
2 maintain the authorized fee exemptions described in section
3 239.117, Florida Statutes, and may be exempt from local fees
4 imposed by the Board of Trustees, at the board's discretion.
5 Section 4. St. Petersburg College; degrees.--
6 (1) In addition to the certificates, diplomas, and
7 degrees authorized in section 240.301, Florida Statutes, St.
8 Petersburg College may offer selected baccalaureate degrees.
9 Initially, the college may offer programs that lead to a
10 baccalaureate degree in the following fields:
11 (a) Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This program must
12 be designed to articulate with the Associate in Science Degree
13 in nursing. St. Petersburg College shall continue to offer the
14 Associate in Science degree in nursing.
15 (b) Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in
16 Elementary Education.
17 (c) Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in
18 Special Education.
19 (d) Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in
20 Secondary Education.
21 (e) Bachelor of Applied Science in fields selected by
22 the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College. The board
23 shall base the selection on an analysis of workforce needs and
24 opportunities in the following counties: Pinellas, Pasco,
25 Hernando, and other counties approved by the Florida
26 Department of Education. For each program selected, St.
27 Petersburg College must offer a related Associate-in-Science
28 or Associate-in-Applied-Science degree program, and the
29 baccalaureate-degree-level program must be designed to
30 articulate fully with at least one Associate-in-Science degree
31 program. The college is encouraged to develop articulation
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1 agreements for enrollment of graduates of related
2 Associate-in-Applied-Science degree programs.
3 (2) St. Petersburg College may offer courses that
4 enable teachers to qualify for certification and
5 recertification as required by law or rule.
6 (3) The college may offer programs to provide
7 opportunities for a person who holds a baccalaureate degree,
8 but is not certified to teach, to obtain any additional
9 courses required for teacher certification.
10 (4) Masters-degree-level programs and doctoral
11 programs may be provided by agreement with a college or
12 university participating in the University Center of St.
13 Petersburg College.
14 (5) For those students living outside the St.
15 Petersburg College service area, St. Petersburg College shall
16 recruit for the upper-division only those students who have
17 earned an associate degree. In recruiting upper division
18 students in Pasco and Hernando Counties, St. Petersburg
19 College shall work cooperatively with Pasco-Hernando Community
20 College and shall seek to offer courses and programs at
21 Pasco-Hernando Community College when feasible. The nursing
22 programs, in particular, must be conducted cooperatively, and
23 programs at St. Petersburg College shall not conflict with
24 Pasco-Hernando Community College's and the University of South
25 Florida's cooperative nursing program.
26 Section 5. St. Petersburg College; boards.--
27 (1) The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg Junior
28 College is renamed the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg
29 College and serves as its governing board. The Governor shall
30 appoint members as provided in section 240.313, Florida
31 Statutes, and the board has the duties and authorities granted
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1 in sections 240.315 and 240.319, Florida Statutes, and by
2 rules of the State Board of Education.
3 (2) The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College
4 may authorize direct support organizations as authorized in
5 sections 240.299 and 240.331, Florida Statutes.
6 (3) The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College
7 may continue to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates as
8 authorized for St. Petersburg Junior College, and in the name
9 of St. Petersburg Junior College, until St. Petersburg College
10 receives its accreditation.
11 (4) A coordinating board shall assist the Board of
12 Trustees in its deliberations concerning issues that affect
13 the upper division of the college. The coordinating board
14 consists of the President of the University of South Florida,
15 the President of St. Petersburg College, the President of
16 Pasco-Hernando Community College, and the chairpersons of the
17 boards of trustees of those institutions.
18 (5) Beginning 4 years after the college receives
19 accreditation to offer baccalaureate degrees, the Board of
20 Trustees of St. Petersburg College may determine additional
21 programs to be offered, with the approval of the coordinating
22 board. The determination must consider community needs and
23 economic opportunities.
24 (6) The coordinating board shall meet at the request
25 of the President of the University of South Florida or the
26 President of St. Petersburg College.
27 (7) If the coordinating board cannot decide an issue
28 of importance to the programs designed for upper-division
29 students, the chief educational officer of this state shall
30 resolve the issue.
31 Section 6. St. Petersburg College; employees.--
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 (1) Employment at St. Petersburg College is governed
2 by the same laws that govern community colleges, except that
3 upper-division faculty are eligible for continuing contract
4 upon the completion of the fifth year of teaching.
5 (2) Employee records for all personnel shall be
6 maintained as required by s. 240.337, Florida Statutes.
7 Section 7. St. Petersburg College; facilities.--The
8 St. Petersburg College may request funding from the Public
9 Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund as a
10 community college and as a university. The municipalities of
11 Pinellas County, the Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas
12 County, and all other governmental entities are authorized to
13 cooperate with the Board of Trustees in establishing this
14 institution. The acquisition and donation of lands, buildings,
15 and equipment for the use of St. Petersburg College are
16 authorized as a public purpose. The Board of County
17 Commissioners of Pinellas County and all municipalities in
18 Pinellas County may exercise the power of eminent domain to
19 acquire lands, buildings, and equipment for the use of St.
20 Petersburg College, regardless of whether such lands,
21 buildings, and equipment are located in a community
22 redevelopment area.
23 Section 8. St. Petersburg College; state funding.--
24 (1) The Legislature intends to fund St. Petersburg
25 College as a community college for its workforce development
26 education programs and for its lower-division-level college
27 credit courses and programs.
28 (2) The Legislature intends to fund St. Petersburg
29 College as a baccalaureate-degree-level institution for its
30 upper-division-level courses and programs.
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1190
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1 (3) During the 2001-2002 fiscal year, St. Petersburg
2 College shall estimate the appropriate level of funding for
3 these programs. By March 1, 2002, the college shall complete a
4 cost study and shall submit to the Legislature a proposal for
5 cost accounting and legislative budget requests designed to
6 acknowledge its unique classification. The cost study must
7 indicate actual costs projected for the first 4 years of
8 operation as a baccalaureate-level institution, with the first
9 students expected to enroll in the upper division in fall
10 semester of 2002.
11 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
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13 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
14 SB 1190
15
16 Changes the name from St. Petersburg College and University
Center to St. Petersburg College.
17
Clarifies that all lower division students will pay the same
18 level of mandatory fees and local fees, and that mandatory and
local fees for upper division students must be less than those
19 charged by the University of South Florida.
20 Deletes the language allowing St. Petersburg College to
reemploy retired personnel.
21
Adds the President and Chairman of the Board of Pasco-Hernando
22 Community College to the Coordinating Board
23 Specifies that for those students living outside of the St.
Petersburg College service area, the college is to recruit for
24 the upper-division only those students who have earned an
associate degree.
25
Specifies that when recruiting upper division students in
26 Pasco and Hernando Counties, St. Petersburg College is to work
cooperatively with Pasco-Hernando Community College and to
27 offer courses and programs at Pasco-Hernando Community College
when feasible.
28
Specifies that the nursing programs, in particular, must be
29 conducted cooperatively, and programs at St. Petersburg
College shall not conflict with Pasco-Hernando Community
30 College's and the University of South Florida's cooperative
nursing program.
31
Removes language appropriating funds.
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