THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DEASY, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DONATUCCI, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, HARKINS, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KOTIK, KULA, MANN, MATZIE, READSHAW, SANTONI, WAGNER AND WHITE, MAY 2, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 2, 2011  

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," further providing for duties of

public institutions of higher education, for the Transfer and

Articulation Oversight Committee and for participation by

independent institutions of higher education and for

participation by State-related institutions.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 2002-C of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added

July 11, 2006 (P.L.1092, No.114), is amended to read:

Section 2002-C.  Duties of public institutions of higher

education.

(a)  Completion.--Each public institution of higher education

shall complete all of the following by June 30, 2008:

(1)  Participate in the development and implementation of

equivalency standards pursuant to section 2004-C(c)(1).

(2)  Establish and maintain records and data detailing

the credits transferred to and received from other public

institutions of higher education as the department may

prescribe.

(3)  Make any reasonable changes and modifications to its

foundation courses, including the strengthening of the

courses, to ensure equivalency of those credits among the

public institutions of higher education, as recommended by

the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.

(4)  Agree to accept for transfer foundation courses

determined to meet equivalency standards under section

2004-C(c)(2).

(a.1)  Completion of second phase.--Each public institution

of higher education shall agree to accept with full junior

standing the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree

into a parallel baccalaureate program as outlined in section

2004-C(c)(2.1), (2.2), (2.3) and (2.4) by the timelines

established by the transfer and articulation subcommittee but

not later than December 31, 2013. For the purposes of this

article, an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree is

a degree designed primarily for transfer to a baccalaureate

institution and must contain a minimum of 60 credits.

(b)  Reporting requirements.--

(1)  A public institution of higher education shall

submit to the department a series of interim reports

outlining the actions that the public institution of higher

education has undertaken or intends to undertake to comply

with subsection (a), which shall be filed December 31, 2006,

June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2007.

(2)  A public institution of higher education shall

submit to the department interim reports outlining the

actions that the public institution of higher education has

undertaken or intends to undertake to comply with subsection

(a.1), which shall be filed by December 31, 2011, June 30,

2012, and December 31, 2012.

Section 2.  Section 2004-C(c) of the act is amended by adding

paragraphs to read:

Section 2004-C.  Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.

* * *

(c)  Duties of Transfer and Articulation Oversight

Committee.--The committee shall:

* * *

(2.1)  By December 1, 2011, consult with the department

on a process and timeline, subject to approval by the

department, to identify the Associate of Arts and Associate

of Science degrees aligned with the graduation requirements

of the parallel baccalaureate degree in all public

institutions of higher education in consultation with faculty

and personnel.

(2.2)  Identify Associate of Arts and Associate of

Science degree programs for transfer with full junior

standing into a parallel baccalaureate degree in consultation

with faculty and personnel in those degree programs by

December 31, 2013.

(2.3)  Identify modifications that may be required in

existing associate or baccalaureate degrees to satisfy

external accreditation or licensure requirements in

consultation with faculty and personnel. Approved

modifications must recognize all competencies attained within

either the associate or baccalaureate programs.

(2.4)  Define requirements, in consultation with faculty

and personnel, for education degrees, including Early

Childhood Education degrees, leading to certification to be

included in an associate degree and be accepted for transfer

with full junior standing into a parallel baccalaureate

degree program.

* * *

Section 3.  Section 2006-C of the act, added July 11, 2006

(P.L.1092, No.114), is amended to read:

Section 2006-C.  Participation by independent institutions of

higher education or State-related [institution]

institutions.

An independent institution of higher education or a State-

related institution may elect to participate through the

adoption of equivalency standards as provided for in subsection

2004-C(c)(1) and by agreement to accept for transfer degrees 

that qualify under section 2004-C(c)(2.2) by its governing body.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011, or

immediately, whichever is later.