Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1560                          PRINTER'S NO.   1714
                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 1155
                                                Session of
                                                  2024
     INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, APRIL 26, 2024
     AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, JUNE 10, 2024
                                     AN ACT
 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
    act relating to the public school system, including certain
    provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
    schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
    laws relating thereto," in miscellaneous provisions relating
    to institutions of higher education, providing for Higher
    Education Task Force.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 hereby enacts as follows:
    Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
 section to read:
 Section 2004-I.    Higher Education Task Force.
    (a)   Establishment.--The Higher Education Task Force is
 established WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.                      <--
    (b)   Purpose.--The task force shall meet, discuss and make
 recommendations to the General Assembly relating to the
 following with respect to the universities within the State          <--
 System of Higher Education and community colleges COLLEGES AND       <--
 UNIVERSITIES in this Commonwealth:
          (1)   Repurposing underutilized facilities.
          (2)   Increasing community college transfers to all
    colleges and universities in this Commonwealth.
          (3)   Opportunities for shared educational programming.
          (4)   Opportunities to eliminate inefficient redundancies.
          (5)   Expanding adult education and educational
    opportunities in underserved areas.
          (6)   Exporting successful educational models for
    reducing underutilized facilities.
          (7)   Establishing employer incentives to assist employee
    skills attainment by focusing on career and technology degree
    programs in high priority occupations for the next five
    years.
          (8)   Increasing student enrollment from other states.
          (9)   Expanding dual enrollment opportunities with high
    schools in this Commonwealth.
    (c)   Membership.--The task force shall consist of the
 following members:
          (1)   Four representatives of the State System of Higher
    Education who are appointed by its Board of Governors.
          (2)   Four representatives from the community colleges who
    are appointed by a Statewide association that represents
    community colleges.
          (3)   One representative from the Pennsylvania College of
    Technology.
          (4)   One representative from the Thaddeus Stevens College
    of Technology.
          (5)   One representative from each of the State-related
    universities.
          (6)   Four representatives from independent colleges in      <--
    this Commonwealth who are appointed by the Governor from
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    names submitted to the Governor by independent colleges.
          (6)    FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT   <--
    COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO ARE
    APPOINTED BY A STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS
    INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
          (7)    Four representatives from private technical
    colleges, including private schools of cosmetology.
          (8)    Two school district superintendents who are
    appointed by a Statewide organization that represents school
    district superintendents.
          (9)    Two representatives from career and technology
    centers appointed by the Governor from names submitted to the
    Governor by career and technology centers.
          (10)    ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL           <--
    APPOINTED BY A STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS
    NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.
    (d)   Chair.--The members of the task force shall appoint a
 chair and vice chair from their membership.
    (e)   Meetings.--
          (1)    The task force shall convene its first meeting by
    July 15, 2025, and other meetings at such times as determined
    by the chair.
          (2)    Meetings of the task force shall be subject to 65
    Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
    (F)   ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.--                      <--
          (1)    THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE
    ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MEETING SPACE AND ANY OTHER
    ASSISTANCE REQUIRED BY THE TASK FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THE TASK
    FORCE'S DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.
          (2)    THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL
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    SUPPORT, INCLUDING DATA, RESEARCH AND OTHER ASSISTANCE
    REQUIRED BY THE TASK FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THE TASK FORCE'S
    DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.
    (f) (G)   Reimbursement of expenses.--Members of the task       <--
 force shall be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable expenses
 related to their participation in the meetings.
    (g) (H)   Report.--The task force shall prepare a written       <--
 report of its discussions and recommendations and shall, no
 later than April 30, 2026, file the report with the Education
 Committee of the Senate, the Education Committee of the House of
 Representatives, the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and
 the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
    Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.
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Statutes/Laws affected: 
Printer's No. 1560: P.L.30, No.14
Printer's No. 1714: P.L.30, No.14