Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges.

A2112

ASSEMBLY, No. 2112

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Miller, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson,
Fantasia, Peterpaul, Assemblymen Freiman, Rodriguez and Assemblywoman Donlon

SYNOPSIS

���� Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of
County Colleges.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning the New Jersey Council of County Colleges
and amending various parts of the statutory law.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� N.J.S.18A:64A-22 is
amended to read as follows:

���� 18A:64A-22. Notwithstanding
any other law to the contrary, the Council of County Colleges
[
may
]

shall

submit to the State Treasurer
[
annual
budget requests
]

, the Governor, and the Legislature, an annual unified budget request

for State support of county colleges
to meet the colleges� strategic
priorities
.� Within the limits of funds appropriated for
[
such purposes
]

State
support of the county colleges
, the board of trustees of a county college
may based upon the itemized statement fixed and determined pursuant to
N.J.S.18A:64A-17 apply to the State Treasurer and receive State support:�

���� a.���� For capital projects in
amounts not to exceed one-half of the cost of
[
said
]

the

capital projects, and�

���� b.��� For operational costs to
the extent of
[
43%
]

43 percent

but not to exceed
[
50%
]

50 percent

of the educational and general costs of the county colleges in the base year;
provided, however, that for the purposes of determining State aid, only credit
courses and noncredit remedial, developmental, general education development
and adult basic education courses shall be included in calculating
[
such
]

the
educational and general
costs. This sum shall be distributed to the county
colleges by the
[
treasurer
]

State
Treasurer

[
in
consultation with
]

pursuant to a performance-based formula developed by
the Council of
County Colleges
[
according
to a formula that includes
]

and approved by the State Treasurer and the Secretary of Higher
Education.� The formula shall include
categorical support and differential
funding based on program costs
and shall ensure that all county colleges
receive funding in an equitable, results-oriented, and transparent manner.� The
council shall, every three years, provide to the State Treasurer and secretary
any recommended improvements to the performance-based formula to ensure that
State aid to the county colleges rewards postsecondary access, equity, and
student success
.

���� No county college shall
receive more than
[
50%
]

50 percent

of its projected educational and general costs through the provisions of this
act.�

���� Each county which operates a
county college shall continue to provide moneys for the support of the college
in an amount no less than those moneys provided in the year in which this act
is enacted or
[
25%
]

25 percent

of the operational expense in the base State fiscal year, whichever is
greater.�

���� State support for the
operational expenses of county colleges shall be made within limits of State
appropriation.�

(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.134)�

���� 2.� Section 6 of P.L.1989,
c.141 (C.18A:64A-28.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 6.� The council shall have
perpetual succession and shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

���� a.���� To make, amend and
repeal rules, regulations and bylaws for its own government and guidance, not
inconsistent with the purposes of the council;

���� b.��� To adopt an official
seal and alter the same at pleasure;

���� c.���� To maintain an office
at such place or places in the State as it may designate;

���� d.��� To sue and be sued in
its own name;

���� e.���� To acquire, hold and
dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the
performance of its duties under this article. All this property shall be exempt
from taxation under chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes;

���� f.���� To act as an advocate
and promote the advancement of the county
[
community
]
colleges of
New Jersey;
[
and
]

���� g.��� To promote diversity of
development among the county
[
community
]
colleges in
ways which
[
will
]

shall

be responsive to the particular needs of the particular counties, and the
State's diverse population and regions
;

����
h.��� To develop and submit
to the Governor, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Legislature
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a biennial strategic
plan outlining a shared vision and set of goals for the county colleges, which
are aligned with State educational and economic priorities, and recommending
policy solutions to meet the needs of the State as well as the individuals and
communities that the county colleges serve.� The strategic plan shall be
developed in consultation with county college faculty, staff, and students;

����
i.���� To serve as the
primary advisory body to the Governor, the Legislature, the Presidents'
Council, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and all other State
agencies on any matter related to the county colleges, including consulting on
the development and design of State laws, regulations, and State-funded pilot
programs and grant programs that pertain to the county colleges.� In fulfilling
its advisory role pursuant to this subsection, the council shall consult with,
or otherwise solicit input from, county college faculty, staff, and students;�

����
j.���� To develop a
performance-based formula to be used in the distribution of State operational
aid to the county colleges, and recommending improvements to the State
Treasurer and the secretary, pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-22;

����
k.��� To serve as the
primary vehicle for bringing together county colleges to implement Statewide
initiatives pertaining to the county colleges, with a focus on:

����
(1)�� student success
initiatives;

����
(2)�� academic innovations;

����
(3)�� efforts to support
basic needs;

����
(4)�� financial aid and
other programs targeted to assist specific populations of students;

����
(5)�� data- and
outcomes-driven decisions; and

����
(6)�� professional
development for county college faculty and staff and for other similar
programs;

����
l.���� To provide contract
services to State departments and agencies, as permitted pursuant to subsection
(a) of section 5 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-10);

����
m.�� To enhance the
availability of data through collaborations with the Office of the Secretary of
Higher Education, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Education, and
the New Jersey Statewide Data System with the goals of:

����
(1)�� developing improved
labor market information;

����
(2)�� creating and
maintaining an industry-valued credential list; and

����
(3)�� developing improved
data on county colleges and making that data publicly available to assist
decision making by county colleges, students, employers, policymakers, and
other interested parties;

����
n.��� To ensure strong
collaboration, and provide guidance, on academic issues by undertaking
activities including, but not limited to:

����
(1)�� maintaining a
Statewide general education framework for county colleges to ensure seamless
transfer of credits and approve general education courses delivered by county
colleges, consistent with the provisions of the Statewide transfer agreement
developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46);

����
(2)�� approving credit
courses used in calculating the educational and general costs for the purposes
of determining State operating aid to county colleges pursuant to
N.J.S.18A:64A-22;

����
(3)�� developing and
maintaining a unified directory of academic programs; and

����
(4)�� developing policies
and initiatives to expand academic and workforce-related dual enrollment, provide
credit for prior learning opportunities, and improve the transfer experience;
�����������������
o.�������� To
support collaboration and improve efficiency among the county colleges by:

����
(1)�� operating a Community
College Joint Purchasing Consortium, in accordance with section 3 of P.L.2015,
c.140 (C.18A:64A-28.2a), that seeks economies in the purchase of goods and
services by increasing efficiency, reducing redundancy, sharing services, and
promoting regional collaboration and contracting where appropriate;

����
(2)�� convening county college
leaders to share promising practices and identify opportunities for
collaboration;

����
(3)�� undertaking and
promoting professional development for faculty and staff; and

����
(4)�� collaborating on the marketing
and promotion of county colleges;

����
p.��� To serve as a unified
lead partner with Statewide business, labor, education, and community
organizations to advance equity, opportunity, and prosperity in New Jersey;

����
q.��� To build strong
partnerships with employers, elementary and secondary schools, four-year
colleges and universities, labor unions, workforce development boards, and
community-based organizations in developing the New Jersey Pathways to Career
Opportunities Initiative and in designing new academic and workforce education
and training pathways aligned with the needs of the economy.� To accomplish
these responsibilities, the council shall:

����
(1)�� create and document
transparent, portable, and stackable credentials and lifelong education and
learning for students and workers with a focus on work-based learning
opportunities, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships,
credit for prior learning, lifelong learning accounts, and other models;

����
(2)�� annually provide a
report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), with recommendations for improving equity,
labor market outcomes, economic mobility, and employer satisfaction and input
from employers on future workforce priorities and needed skills; and

����
(3)�� assist the Governor,
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority, and other State agencies in planning for the attraction
and retention of businesses, including the design of new open-source curricula
and new credentials to reflect evolving employer technology and needed skills and
the development and promotion of county college programs that prepare workers for
the impact of new technology;

����
r.���� To facilitate county
college requests for capital funding pursuant to P.L.1971, c.12 (C.18A:64A-22.1
et seq.) and work in consultation with the State Treasurer to determine capital
projects for which funding shall be allocated; and

����
s.���� To assist in the
administration of funds provided to county colleges pursuant to the federal Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, Pub.L.109-270 (20 U.S.C.
s.2301 et seq.)
.

(cf: P.L.1989, c.141, s.6)

���� 3.��� Section 8 of P.L.1989,
c.141 (C.18A:64A-28.4) is amended to read as follows:

���� 8.��� The council shall
encourage and aid movements which it deems necessary for the improvement of
county college education and
ensure collaboration among the county colleges
on academic issues. The council
shall, from time to time, make
recommendations to the Governor,
the
Legislature
[
and Commission
on Higher Education regarding the coordination of the county colleges on
matters of mutual interest and concern
]

, the Presidents� Council, the Office of the Secretary of Higher
Education, and all other State agencies on any issue concerning the county
colleges, pursuant to its authority as the primary advisory body on county
college issues
.�

(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.148)

���� 4.��� N.J.S.18A:64A-29 is
amended to read as follows:

���� 18A:64A-29.� The council
[
will
]

shall

seek to ensure acceptable and effective lines of development in admissions
policy, academic standards, programs, financing, including
[
recommending
to the State Treasurer a
]

the requirement enumerated in N.J.S.18A:64A-22 that the council develop a
performance-based
formula for the allocation of annual appropriations among
the county colleges and making recommendations for capital funding, and
community relations in the several county colleges.�

���� The council
[
will
]

shall

serve as a means of communication between the county colleges, and act as a
resource center to aid them in planning, act as a clearing house of
information, and provide continuing field services.�

���� The council
[
will
]

shall

act as
[
an
]

the
primary
advisory body to the Governor,
the
Legislature,
[
Commission on
Higher Education and
]

, the
Presidents' Council
[
in
the carrying out of their respective duties and responsibilities deriving from
this chapter
]

, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and all other State
agencies on any issue concerning the county colleges
.

(cf: P.L.1999, c.46, s.42)

���� 5.��� Section 5 of P.L.1954,
c.48 (C.52:34-10) is amended to read as follows:

���� 5.��� Any such purchase,
contract or agreement may be made, negotiated or awarded� pursuant to section 3
of
[
this
act
]

P.L.1954,
c.48 (C.52:34-8)
when
:

���� (a)�� the purchase is to be
made from, or the contract to be made with, the Federal or any State Government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof
, including the New Jersey
Council of County Colleges
;�� or

���� (b)�� the public exigency
requires the immediate delivery of the articles or performance of the service;�
or

���� (c)�� only 1 source of supply
is available;� or

���� (d)�� more favorable terms can
be obtained from a primary source of supply; or

���� (e)�� articles of wearing
apparel are to be purchased which are styled or seasonal in character;� or

���� (f)�� commodities traded on a
national commodity exchange are to be purchased� and fluctuations of the market
require immediate action;� or

���� (g)�� the equipment to be
purchased is of a technical nature and the procurement thereof without
advertising is necessary in order to assure standardization of equipment and
interchangeability of parts in the public interest.

(cf: P.L.1954, c.48, s.5)

���� 6.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill modernizes the
responsibilities of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.

���� Current law establishes the
New Jersey Council of County Colleges to, among certain other responsibilities,
act as an advocate and promote the advancement of the county colleges, promote
the diversity of development among the county colleges, and ensure the
coordination of the county colleges on matters of mutual interest and concern.�

���� The bill modernizes the powers
and responsibilities of the council to require it to:

�

develop and submit to the Governor, the Secretary of Higher
Education, and the Legislature, a biennial strategic plan outlining a shared
vision and set of goals for the county colleges.� The strategic plan is to be
developed in consultation with county college faculty, staff, and students;

�

serve as the primary advisory body to the Governor, the
Legislature, the Presidents' Council, the Office of the Secretary of Higher
Education, and all other State agencies on any matter related to the county
colleges, including consulting on the development and design of State laws,
regulations, and State-funded pilot programs and grant programs that pertain to
the county colleges.� In fulfilling its advisory role, the council is required
to consult with, or otherwise solicit input from, county college faculty,
staff, and students;

�

develop a performance-based formula to be used in allocating
State aid appropriations for county college operations, subject to the approval
of the State Treasurer and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education;

�

serve as the primary vehicle for implementing Statewide
initiatives pertaining to county colleges;

�

bring together county colleges in support of State initiatives
and to provide contract services to State departments and agencies;

�

enhance the availability of data to improve decision making among
county colleges, students, employers, policymakers, and other interested
parties;

�

ensure stronger collaboration on academic issues;

�

support collaboration and improve efficiency among the county
colleges;

�

provide services to State departments and agencies for certain
purchases, contracts, or agreements in which the State departments and agencies
do not have to advertise for bids pursuant to current law;

�

serve as a unified lead partner with Statewide business, labor,
education, and community organizations to advance equity, opportunity, and
prosperity in New Jersey;

�

build strong partnerships with employers, elementary and
secondary schools, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions, workforce
development boards, and community-based organizations in developing the New
Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative and in designing new
academic and workforce education and training pathways aligned with the needs
of the economy;

�

facilitate county college requests for certain capital funding
authorized pursuant to current law and to work with the State Treasurer in
allocating that funding; and

�

assist in the administration of funds provided to county colleges
pursuant to the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of
2006.