SENATE BILL NO. 1055

August 15, 2020, Introduced by Senator NESBITT and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

"Community college act of 1966,"

by amending sections 105 and 121 (MCL 389.105 and 389.121), as amended by 2012 PA 495.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 105. As used in this act:

(a) "Area", in the term "area vocational-technical education program", means the geographical territory of the district, and any territory outside of the district that is designated as the service area of the district by the superintendent of public instruction. A community college is eligible to receive state aid and assistance appropriated by the legislature for the aid and support of junior colleges or community colleges.

(b) "Area vocational-education program" means a program of organized systematic instruction designed to prepare the following individuals for useful employment in recognized occupations:

(i) An individual who has completed or left high school and who is available for full-time study in preparation for entering the labor market.

(ii) An individual who has already entered the labor market and who needs training to achieve stability or advancement in employment.

(iii) An individual enrolled in high school. If a program or course is provided for an individual enrolled in high school, the superintendent of the school district in which the individual is enrolled or his or her designated representative shall request that the program or course be provided to the individual.

(c) "Community college" means an educational institution providing collegiate and noncollegiate level education primarily to individuals above the twelfth grade age level within commuting distance. The term includes an area vocational-technical education program that may result in the granting of an associate degree or other diploma or certificate. The term does not include an educational institution or program that grants baccalaureate or higher degrees other than a bachelor of science in nursing degree or a baccalaureate degree in cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology, or culinary arts.

(d) "General election" or "general state election" means the term general election as defined in section 2 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.2.

(e) "Michigan election law" means the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992.

(f) "Regular election" means that term as defined in section 3 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.3.

(g) "School district" means a school district, a local act school district, or an intermediate school district, as those terms are defined in the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, or a community college district under this act.

(h) "School district filing official" means the school district election coordinator as defined in section 4 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.4, or an authorized agent of the school district election coordinator.

(i) "Special election" means that term as defined in section 4 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.4.

Sec. 121. The board of trustees of the a community college district has the power to may make plans for, to promote, or to acquire, construct, own, develop, maintain, and operate a community college and an area vocational-technical education program. The board of trustees may do all of the following:

(a) Locate, acquire, purchase, or lease in the name of the community college district a site or sites within or without the territory of the community college district for college buildings, libraries, agricultural farms, athletic fields, playgrounds, stadiums, gymnasiums, auditoriums, parking areas, residence halls, and supporting facilities as may be necessary; purchase, lease, acquire, erect or build and equip buildings, structures, and other improvements for college or area vocational-technical education buildings, libraries, agricultural farms, athletic fields, playgrounds, stadiums, gymnasiums, auditoriums, parking areas, residence halls, and supporting facilities as may be necessary; enter into installment purchase contracts for real or personal property; pay for real or personal property out of the funds of the community college district provided for that purpose; sell or exchange any real or personal property of the community college district that is no longer required for school purposes, and give proper deeds, bills of sale, or other instruments passing title to the real or personal property.

(b) Establish and carry on schools and departments or courses of study and other educational programs as may be consistent with the purposes of this act, and take over and succeed to the operation of a community college or vocational-technical department or departments previously operated by school districts within the community college district.

(c) Establish, equip, and maintain agricultural, trade, and other vocational-technical departments and have general control over them for community college or area vocational-technical program purposes.

(d) Establish education programs and grant a baccalaureate degree degrees in cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology, or culinary arts.

(e) Establish a nursing education program that grants bachelor of science in nursing degrees. All of the following apply to the establishment and operation of a bachelor of science in nursing degree program under this subdivision:

(i) The board of trustees shall not eliminate any associate degree programs the community college offers at the time it establishes a bachelor degree program under this subdivision unless the board demonstrates that there is a lack of student demand for that associate degree.

(ii) The community college shall not operate an educational program that grants bachelor of science in nursing degrees unless the program is determined to meet the requirements set forth in section 17241 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17241.

(iii) Before the community college begins offering bachelor of science in nursing degrees, and while it offers those degrees, the community college shall hold a national professional nursing accreditation, hold candidacy status for that accreditation, or have applied for that accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or its successors or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or its successors.