Wyoming Community College Commission Duties and Funding
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2008 General Session Summary for HB0017 Bill No.: HB0017 Drafter: DRN LSO No.: 08LSO-0148 Effective Date: 7/1/2008 Enrolled Act No.: <enrnum> Chapter No.: <chptnum> Prime Sponsor: Joint Education Interim Committee Catch Title: Community college commission-duties. Subject: The Wyoming community college commission and the community college system. Summary/Major Elements: Implements recommendations of the Governor's Study Commission on Community Colleges; Requires each college to annually report to the commission in addition to the state treasurer on its respective expenditures and accomplishments under the endowment matching program; Requires the commission to respond to any community outside a college district requesting a service from its service area college district, and the service area district determines not to provide the requested service; Requires the commission to develop a statewide biennial community college strategic plan for the delivery of educational programs in the state, which is to serve as basis for annual report to governor and legislature; Allows commission to review and modify or maintain existing college service areas; Directs commission to review existing certificate and degree programs and to terminate state funding for those programs with consistently low enrollment; Directs and funds commission to conduct enrollment audits to ensure uniform accounting of FTE students in reporting financial data, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the current financial audits conducted by each college through independent CPAs; $250,000 appropriation to commission for expanded duties, $130,000 of which is for an additional position to implement expanded audit function and the remaining funds to carry out strategic planning efforts. Comment: Final action on this bill was not taken at the time this summary was prepared. Should changes be made to this bill upon final passage, an updated summary will be transmitted to all legislators.
Public statements
Last checked Sep 12, 11:00 AM
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker explains that the bill now allows terminating state funding for low-enrollment programs rather than terminating the programs themselves, and notes that a new auditor position will track these costs to ensure accurate reporting.
S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because it adds a reporting requirement that informs legislative committees about community college programs with consistently low enrollment, without changing existing termination recommendations.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because it represents legislative overreach into college trustee meetings and operations, which they believe should remain with the trustees.
R · S27
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment as a compromise that maintains decision-making authority with college trustees while adding transparency to track how increased state funding is impacting community colleges.
Why they voted this way
The speaker argues that the amendments maintain the intended power of the commission to review programs with low enrollment, which is why he asks for a yes vote.
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports allowing the state to loan funds to community colleges because this pattern has been successfully used with other entities like joint powers boards.
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
10 roll calls
Official activity
Changes
7 stored
Adopted Standing Committee by H04
Adopted Standing Committee by H02
Adopted 2nd reading by BEBOUT
Failed 2nd reading by SCOTT
Adopted 3rd reading by MASSIE
Adopted Standing Committee by S04
Failed Standing Committee by NICHOLAS