The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for affiliations between Kansas universities, municipal universities, accredited independent institutions, and technical or community colleges. It defines key terms such as "accredited independent institution," "affiliation," and "community college," and outlines the process for entering into affiliation agreements, which require approval from the governing bodies involved. The bill ensures that all powers and duties of the affiliated institutions will be transferred to the affiliating institution, allowing personnel from the affiliated institutions to transition without interruption of employment. Additionally, it addresses governance and operational responsibilities, continuity of legal actions and contracts, and explicitly prohibits the creation of service areas for any educational institutions involved.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of the Kansas Statutes related to community colleges, focusing on the powers and responsibilities of the board of trustees, including the authority to enter into agreements for property use and levy taxes for maintenance and operation. It mandates community colleges to publish transparency data on their websites and revises tax levy procedures, specifying that no tax levy can occur without a resolution from the board of trustees. The bill also modifies the petition process for opposing tax levies and clarifies definitions related to community colleges and technical education. Additionally, it repeals several existing statutes to streamline processes and ensure that regulations governing these educational institutions are current and effective.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 71-201, 71-204, 71-222, 71-501, 71-617, 71-1802, 72-3810, 74-32, 76-712