1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," providing for rural regional
6community college for underserved counties.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11article to read:

12ARTICLE XIX-G

13RURAL REGIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

14FOR UNDERSERVED COUNTIES

15Section 1901-G. Scope of article.

16This article provides for the establishment of a rural
17regional community college in a multicounty rural area that is
18underserved by comprehensive community college education and
19work force development.

20Section 1902-G. Definitions.

1The following words and phrases when used in this article
2shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
3context clearly indicates otherwise:

4"Annual." A 12-month period coterminous with the
5Commonwealth's fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

6"Board of trustees." The board of trustees of a rural
7regional community college established under this article.

8"County." Any county in this Commonwealth.

9"Certified public accountant." A member of the American
10Institute of Certified Public Accountants who has a minimum of
11five years' verifiable experience in performing audits of
12government funds for nonprofit organizations with a comparable
13or larger annual budget.

14"Middle States." The Middle States Association of Colleges
15and Schools.

16"Partner institution." One or more Middle States-accredited
17institutions of higher education.

18"Rural regional community college." A public institution <-of
19higher education which is established in a rural area and
20operated in accordance with the provisions of this article as a
21nonprofit organization <-college which provides up to a two-year,
22postsecondary education not to exceed the level of an associate
23of arts or sciences degree and which is active in work force
24development.

25"Rural regional community college plan" or "plan." A plan
26for the establishment and operation of a rural regional
27community college under this article.

28"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth
29or such person as the secretary may designate to act on behalf
30of the secretary with regard to any of the duties and

1prerogatives imposed by this article.

2"State Board." The State Board of Education.

3Section 1903-G. Designations by the secretary.

4(a) Duties of secretary.--

5(1) Within 30 days of the effective date of this
6section, the secretary shall designate an established
7nonprofit organization as defined under section 501(c)(3) of
8the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26
9U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)), which organization represents a rural
10multicounty region underserved by a comprehensive community
11college program, including work force development, to assist
12the secretary with the designation under paragraph (2).

13(2) Within 30 days of the designation under paragraph
14(1), the secretary shall, in consultation with the nonprofit
15organization, designate contiguous counties or parts of
16contiguous counties to be served by establishment of a rural
17regional community college.

18(b) Changes.--No sooner than four years after the effective
19date of this section, the secretary, with approval of the board
20of trustees, may add counties or parts of counties to be served
21by the rural regional community college.

22Section 1904-G. Designation; board of trustees.

23Within 60 days of the secretary's designation under section
241903-G(a)(2), a board of trustees shall be appointed to
25establish a rural regional community college. The board of
26trustees shall consist of not fewer than seven members nor more
27than 15 members appointed by the secretary in consultation and
28jointly with the nonprofit organization designated under section
291903-G(a)(1). The following shall apply to the board of trustees
30established under this section:

1(1) Members of the board of trustees shall be
2representative of the area designated under section 1903-G(a)
3(2) and may include school administrators, community
4education council officials, business leaders and government
5officials.

6(2) Members of the board of trustees shall be appointed
7for terms of three years each, except that those persons
8initially appointed shall draw lots to determine which
9trustees shall serve for a term of three years, which
10trustees shall serve for a term of two years and which
11trustees shall serve for a term of one year. <-To the extent 
12practicable, from those trustees initially appointed, an 
13equal number shall draw lots to serve for a term of three 
14years, for a term of two years and for a term of one year.
15Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms of three
16years each.

17(3) Vacancies on the board shall be filled by the
18existing board. A trustee may succeed himself, provided that
19no member shall serve for longer than ten years.

20(4) The secretary shall convene an initial meeting of
21the board of trustees within 30 days of the secretary's
22appointment of a board of trustees under this section. After
23the initial meeting, the board of trustees shall meet at such
24times each year as the board of trustees determines to be
25necessary to satisfy the requirements of this article.

26(5) The board of trustees shall adopt standing operating
27rules and procedures, by laws and articles of incorporation.

28(6) The board of trustees shall establish an advisory
29council of presidents, or their designees, from institutions
30with postsecondary education programs within the region

1designated under section 1903-G(a)(2). The advisory council
2shall meet quarterly to discuss employer and work force
3needs, new educational offerings and general coordination of
4service and facilities. One advisory council member
5representing a community college and one advisory council
6member that is a president of a college or university shall
7serve as co-chairs.

8(7) The board of trustees shall choose from among its
9members a chairman, vice chairman and secretary.

10(8) A majority of the members of the board of trustees
11shall constitute a quorum.

12(9) Trustees shall serve without compensation, except
13that they shall be reimbursed <-by the rural regional community 
14college for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in
15the performance of their duties.

16Section 1905-G. Establishment.

17(a) General rule.--Within one year of its initial meeting,
18the board of trustees appointed under section 1904-G shall
19submit to the secretary a proposed rural regional community
20college plan in such form and containing such information as the
21secretary may require. In addition to other information which
22may be required by the secretary, the plan shall include the
23following:

24(1) A designation of the name of the proposed rural
25regional community college which shall be the "Regional
26Community College of " or "
27Regional Community College."

28(2) A survey of the educational, vocational and
29occupational needs of the area and the means by which the
30proposed rural regional community college will meet those

1needs, re-engage high school dropouts to earn their secondary
2credentials and postsecondary credentials or industry
3certification, reduce unemployment and improve the employable
4skills of residents of the area to be served by the rural
5regional community college.

6(3) An operating and financial plan for the proposed
7rural regional community college, including a plan for the
8capital needs and expenses of the proposed rural regional
9community college.

10(4) A plan by which the rural regional community college
11shall seek accreditation by an accrediting association which
12is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

13(b) Submission of plan.--Within 60 days of the submission of
14the rural regional community college plan to the secretary, the
15secretary shall issue an approval or rejection of the plan. A
16rejection of the plan shall be accompanied by a written
17statement of the reasons for the rejection of the plan. If the
18plan is rejected, the board of trustees shall submit a revised
19plan to the secretary within 60 days of the plan's rejection.

20(c) Plan approval.--Upon the approval of the plan by the
21secretary, the rural regional community college shall be
22considered established.

23Section 1906-G. Powers and duties of board of trustees.

24(a) General rule.--The board of trustees appointed under
25section 1904-G shall administer and supervise the affairs of the
26rural regional community college established under this article.
27Subject to any other law and to any regulations promulgated by
28the State Board pertaining to rural regional community colleges,
29the board of trustees shall have the following powers and
30duties:

1(1) To advance the mission of the rural regional
2community college in service to residents of the region
3designated under section 1903-G(a)(2).

4(2) To appoint and fix the salary of a president of the
5rural regional community college.

6(3) To appoint and fix the salary of a chief financial
7officer of the rural regional community college.

8(4) To hold, rent, lease, sell, purchase and improve
9land, buildings, furnishings, equipment, materials, books and
10supplies.

11(5) To enter into contracts for services with community
12education councils, schools, colleges or universities, or
13with school districts or municipalities, and other applicable
14or appropriate agencies and organizations, to effectuate the
15purposes of this article.

16(6) To accept and receive gifts of real and personal
17property and Federal, State and local moneys, loans and
18grants, and to expend the same.

19(7) To make policies providing for the admission and
20expulsion of students, the courses of instruction, the
21tuition and fees to be charged and for all matters related to
22the government and administration of the rural regional
23community college, provided that policies related to
24admission, tuition and fees give preference to residents of
25the area designated by the secretary pursuant to section
261903-G(a)(2).

27(8) To submit to the secretary for approval proposed
28amendments to the rural regional community college plan.

29(9) To enter into contracts for services to high schools
30located in the area designated by the secretary under section

11903-G to provide services, including, but not limited to,
2area vocational-technical education services.

3(10) To approve an annual budget to be submitted to the
4secretary for funding.

5(11) To exercise such other powers and perform such
6other duties as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of
7this article.

8(b) Duties of board.--The board of trustees shall enter into
9contracts, hold property and take other actions in the name of
10the rural regional community college.

11(c) Initial partnership.--

12(1) The board of trustees shall select initially a
13partner institution to develop and offer accredited courses
14and programs of study at the approved sites of operation.

15(2) The partner institution shall select programs only
16with approval of the board of trustees and consistent with
17the partner institution's accreditation and shall be
18responsible for staffing and evaluation and provision of
19other support services as may be required for students.

20(3) The board of trustees may contract with other
21colleges to provide curricula not available through the
22partner institution.

23(4) As the rural regional community college is able to
24operate on its own, a transition plan and budget shall be
25included in the contract between the rural regional community
26college and the partner institution to efficiently expedite
27the transition.

28(5) Nothing in this article shall be construed to
29preclude the board of trustees from contracting for specific
30services or programs following the transition from the

1initial partner institution.

2Section 1907-G. Officers of rural regional community college.

3(a) President.--The president shall be the chief executive
4and administrative officer of the rural regional community
5college and shall perform all duties which the board of trustees
6may prescribe. The president shall have the right to attend
7meetings of the board of trustees and to be heard on all matters
8before it, but shall have no right to vote on any matter.

9(b) Chief financial officer.--The chief financial officer of
10the rural regional community college shall give a proper bond in
11such amount and with such corporate surety as is approved by the
12board of trustees. The chief financial officer shall file the
13bond with the board of trustees. The account of the chief
14financial officer shall be audited <-biannually annually by a
15certified public accountant or other qualified public accountant
16selected by the board of trustees.

17Section 1908-G. Students.

18Any individual may apply for admission to the rural regional
19community college established under this article, provided that
20preference in admissions, tuition and fees may be given to
21residents of the multicounty area designated by the secretary
22pursuant to section 1903-G(a)(2). In considering applicants for
23admission, the rural regional community college shall not
24discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, marital
25status, ethnic group or religion.

26Section 1909-G. Tuition.

27The tuition and fees charged by the rural regional community
28college shall be an amount determined by the board of trustees,
29in accordance with the budget submitted to the secretary. The
30board of trustees shall annually establish a separate schedule

1of tuition and fees for students that reside inside the region
2designated under section 1903-G(a)(2) and students that reside
3outside said region.

4Section 1910-G. Dissolution and transition of rural regional
5community college.

6The rural regional community college established under this
7article may not be dissolved without the approval of the
8secretary. Upon dissolution of the rural regional community
9college, the Commonwealth shall assume all assets and
10liabilities of the rural regional community college, except that
11such assets that are the property of any partner institution
12that may be operating for and within the rural regional
13community college shall remain the property of the partner
14institution.

15Section 1911-G. Degrees.

<-16The rural regional community college established under this
17article may award any type of diploma, technical or career
18training certificate or degree not to exceed the level of an
19associate of arts or sciences degree. <-The rural regional
20community college established under this article may award any
21type of diploma, technical or career training certificate or
22associate degrees in the arts, sciences, technologies or general
23education upon successful completion of programs authorized by
24the board of trustees. As long as the partner institution
25provides the accredited curricula and courses under contract to
26the rural regional community college, the requirements of the
27accrediting agency shall pertain to the granting of such awards.

28Section 1912-G. Funding.

29The rural regional community college established under this
30article shall be funded by tuition and fees established by the

1board of trustees, and may accept appropriations from the
2General Assembly, grants from the Federal Government, grants
3from the Commonwealth, grants from private foundations or any
4combination thereof.

5Section 1913-G. Financial aid.

<-6Students enrolled in the rural regional community college
7established under this article shall be eligible for financial
8aid to the extent permitted under Federal and State law.

<-9(a) Initial partnership period.--During the rural regional
10community college's initial partnership with a partner
11institution, a student enrolled in the rural regional community
12college shall be eligible for consideration for a Pennsylvania
13State Grant and other Commonwealth-funded financial aid
14administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
15Agency, provided that the partner institution is an institution
16of higher education as approved by and in accordance with rules
17and regulations of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
18Agency.

19(b) Post-transition period.--Upon the rural regional
20community college operating on its own without a partner
21institution, a student shall only be eligible for consideration
22for a Pennsylvania State Grant and any other Commonwealth-funded
23financial aid if the rural regional community college is
24approved by the Department of Education and is accredited or a
25recognized candidate for accreditation with an accrediting body
26recognized under rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania
27Higher Education Assistance Agency and satisfies any other
28institutional and administrative program requirements as the
29Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency may require.

30Section 1914-G. Regulations.

1The State Board may promulgate regulations pursuant to the
2act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory
3Review Act, as necessary to implement this article.

4Section 1915-G. Reports.

5The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall prepare
6and submit to the General Assembly written interim and final
7reports evaluating the operation of this article. The interim
8report shall be submitted by June 30, 2018, and the final report
9shall be submitted by June 30, 2022. Each report shall include,
10but may not be limited to, the following:

11(1) A review of the success of the rural regional
12community college established under this article in
13satisfying the goals set forth in the rural regional
14community college plan approved by the secretary and in
15satisfying the needs of the multicounty area the rural
16regional community college was established to serve.

17(2) Demographic and program data, including the
18following:

19(i) Numbers of full-time and part-time faculty and
20student enrollments, in total and within curricular
21areas.

22(ii) Dual enrollment participation.

23(iii) Credit hours taught by faculty.

24(iv) Distance learning courses offered.

25(v) Articulation agreements with higher education
26institutions.

27(vi) Lists of courses with fewer than 20 students.

28(vii) Lists of courses with more than 50 students.

29Where available, student data shall be disaggregated by
30categories, including gender, race and age.

1(3) Student progress and achievement measures, including
2the following:

3(i) Retention rates related to student goals.

4(ii) Graduation and completion rates after two,
5three and four years.

6(iii) Passing rates on certification and licensure
7examinations.

8(iv) Number of students employed within one year of
9program completion.

10(v) Placement into additional education or
11employment in the student's field of study.

12Where available, data shall be disaggregated by categories,
13including gender, race and age.

14(4) Economic and work force development measures,
15including:

16(i) Employer satisfaction.

17(ii) Customized job training offerings.

18(iii) Employment status.

19(iv) Numbers of businesses and organizations served.

20(5) Recommendations for future legislation.

<-21Section 1916-G. Transfers of credits.

22For purposes of facilitating the transfer of credits attained
23by students of the regional community college, the regional
24community college shall be considered a public institution of
25higher education as defined in section 2001-C and, upon the
26regional community college being able to operate on its own,
27shall be required to fulfill all the duties and obtain for its
28students all the benefits of Article XX-C within two years of
29operation of the established regional community college.

30Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.