PRINTER'S NO. 129
No. 142 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY ERICKSON, WONDERLING, MADIGAN, TOMLINSON, MUSTO, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN, CORMAN, COSTA, D. WHITE, RHOADES, O'PAKE, PILEGGI, GREENLEAF, EARLL, KASUNIC, TARTAGLIONE, PIPPY, LOGAN, BOSCOLA, STACK AND VANCE, FEBRUARY 1, 2005
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 2005
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 2 act relating to the public school system, including certain 3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 5 laws relating thereto," further providing for community 6 college financial programs and reimbursements; establishing 7 the Community College Deferred Maintenance Fund; and 8 abrogating a regulation. 9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 10 hereby enacts as follows: 11 Section 1. Section 1902-A of the act of March 10, 1949 12 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added 13 July 1, 1985 (P.L.103, No.31), is amended to read: 14 Section 1902-A. Powers and Duties of State Board of 15 Education.--(a) The State Board of Education shall have the 16 power, and its duty shall be: 17 (1) To adopt such policies, standards, rules and regulations 18 formulated by the Council of Higher Education, as may be 19 necessary to provide for the establishment, operation and 20 maintenance of community colleges, including minimum
1 requirements for physical facilities and equipment, curriculum, 2 faculty, standards and professional requirements, qualifications 3 for admission and advancement of students, student enrollment, 4 student population of the area to be served by the community 5 college, requirements for satisfactory completion of a two-year 6 program and the degrees or diplomas or certificates to be 7 awarded therefor, means of financing and financial resources for 8 the establishment and support of the community college, and all 9 matters necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act. 10 (2) To approve or disapprove plans for the establishment or 11 operation of a community college. 12 (3) To approve or disapprove petitions of school districts 13 or municipalities applying for participation in an established 14 community college. No petition may be approved unless it is 15 accompanied by the consent of the governing bodies of the 16 majority of the members of the local sponsor of the established 17 community college to the participation of the petitioning school 18 district or municipality. 19 (b) In determining such policies, standards, rules and 20 regulations, the State Board of Education may consider relevant 21 all minimum requirements established by statute or by regulation 22 with respect to the State colleges and universities of the 23 Commonwealth and may consider relevant such minimum requirements 24 established by statute or by regulation with respect to 25 secondary and special education programs in the school district 26 or districts of the area to be served by the community college. 27 Regulations promulgated under this article shall take effect at 28 the beginning of the school year following promulgation. 29 (c) In approving or disapproving such plans, the State Board 30 of Education shall consider the needs of areas adjacent to the 20050S0142B0129 - 2 -
1 areas to be served by the community college and of the State 2 with respect to higher education and long range plans therefor 3 established by the State Board of Education. Other school 4 districts and municipalities may petition the State Board of 5 Education to become a part of a local sponsor as hereafter in 6 this act provided. 7 (d) No plan for the establishment of a community college 8 shall be approved unless the State Board of Education determines 9 that the local sponsor has a population of a sufficient number 10 to assure a sustained minimum enrollment, has sufficient wealth 11 to financially support such college and is not adequately served 12 by established institutions of higher learning. No plan for the 13 establishment of a community college shall be approved unless it 14 contains an estimate of operating cost for administration, 15 instruction, operation and maintenance and such other accounts 16 as the State Board of Education may, from time to time, 17 determine. No plan for the establishment of a community college 18 shall be approved unless it contains an estimate of any proposed 19 capital improvements for the next following ten years. 20 (e) To confer with and obtain the approval of the Governor's 21 Office as to the number of community colleges which can be 22 approved for participation during the ensuing fiscal period. 23 (f) Wherever in this act the approval of the State Board of 24 Education is required in any matter, the State Board of 25 Education may require the Department of Education to make and 26 report its findings and recommendations on such matter to the 27 Council of Higher Education for the formulation of policies, 28 standards, rules and regulations for consideration by the State 29 Board of Education. 30 Section 2. Section 1913-A of the act, amended or added July 20050S0142B0129 - 3 -
1 1, 1985 (P.L.103, No.31), October 20, 1988 (P.L.827, No.110), 2 June 7, 1993 (P.L.49, No.16) and June 22, 2001 (P.L.530, No.35), 3 is amended to read: 4 Section 1913-A. Financial Program; Reimbursement of 5 Payments.--(a) The plan submitted by the local sponsor shall 6 set forth a financial program for the operation of the community 7 college. The plan shall provide that the local sponsor shall 8 appropriate or provide to the community college an amount at 9 least equal to the community college's annual operating costs 10 less the student tuition as determined in section 1908-A(a) less 11 the Commonwealth's payment as determined in subsection (b)(1) of 12 this section. The plan shall also provide that one-half of the 13 annual capital expenses shall be appropriated or provided by the 14 local sponsor to the community college. The local sponsor's 15 appropriation for annual operating costs and annual capital 16 expenses may in part be represented by real or personal property 17 or services made available to the community college. The plan 18 shall indicate whether the appropriation shall come from general 19 revenues, loan funds, special tax levies or from other sources, 20 including student tuitions. 21 (b) (1) The Commonwealth shall pay to a community college 22 on behalf of the sponsor on account of its operating costs 23 during the fiscal year from funds appropriated for that purpose 24 an amount equal to: 25 (i) for the 1993-1994 fiscal year through the 2000-2001 26 fiscal year, the lesser of such college's variable State share 27 ceiling as determined in clause (1.3) or such college's 28 equivalent full-time student reimbursement as determined in 29 clause (1.4); and 30 (ii) for the 2001-2002 fiscal year and each fiscal year 20050S0142B0129 - 4 -
1 thereafter, the college's equivalent full-time student 2 reimbursement as determined in clause (1.4). 3 (1.2) The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 4 community colleges, shall promulgate standards for credit 5 courses and for noncredit courses that will be eligible for 6 Commonwealth reimbursement. The standards shall specifically 7 exclude from eligibility for reimbursement any course or program 8 in avocational or recreational pursuits. The standards shall be 9 promulgated by the beginning of the 1994-1995 fiscal year. Until 10 such standards are promulgated, no community college will be 11 reimbursed for any credit course which was offered by such 12 college as a noncredit course during the college's 1992-1993 13 fiscal year. 14 (1.3) The variable State share ceiling of a community 15 college shall be determined as follows: 16 (i) Subtract the taxable income per person of the local 17 sponsor from the highest taxable income per person of any county 18 in the Commonwealth. 19 (ii) Divide the amount determined under subclause (i) by the 20 difference between the highest taxable income per person of any 21 county in the Commonwealth and the lowest taxable income per 22 person of any county in the Commonwealth. 23 (iii) Multiply the quotient determined under subclause (ii) 24 by one-sixth. 25 (iv) Add one-third to the product determined under paragraph 26 (iii). 27 (v) Multiply the sum determined under subclause (iv) by the 28 community college's operating costs in the year for which 29 reimbursement is being claimed. 30 (vi) The taxable income per person data used in the 20050S0142B0129 - 5 -
1 preceding calculation shall be data certified to the Secretary 2 of Education by the Secretary of Revenue under section 2501(9.1) 3 for school district local sponsors or data otherwise published 4 by the Secretary of Revenue for a municipal local sponsor. 5 (1.4) The equivalent full-time student reimbursement of a 6 community college shall be the sum of credit course, noncredit 7 course and stipend reimbursements. These reimbursements shall be 8 calculated using a reimbursement factor of one thousand and 9 forty dollars ($1,040) for the 1993-1994 fiscal year, of one 10 thousand eighty dollars ($1,080) for the 1994-1995 fiscal year 11 and of one thousand one hundred eighty dollars ($1,180) for the 12 1995-1996 fiscal year and one thousand and two hundred and ten 13 dollars ($1,210) for the 1996-1997 fiscal year and one thousand 14 two hundred sixty dollars ($1,260) for the 1997-1998 fiscal year 15 and the 1998-1999 fiscal year and one thousand three hundred 16 dollars ($1,300) for the 1999-2000 fiscal year and one thousand 17 four hundred dollars ($1,400) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year and 18 one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the 2001-2002 19 fiscal year and for each year thereafter and shall be determined 20 as follows: 21 (i) Credit course reimbursement shall be calculated by 22 multiplying the reimbursement factor by the number of equivalent 23 full-time students enrolled in credit courses as determined by 24 an audit to be made in a manner prescribed by the State Board of 25 Education. The following apply: 26 (A) Course enrollment is to be determined by the standards 27 of the community college. 28 (B) Computer-based documentation or paper-based 29 documentation may be used to verify enrollment. 30 (C) Enrollment in a program of study is to be determined 20050S0142B0129 - 6 -
1 solely by the declaration of the student. 2 (ii) Noncredit course reimbursement shall be calculated as 3 follows: 4 (A) [eighty] Eighty percent (80%) of the reimbursement 5 factor multiplied by the number of equivalent full-time students 6 enrolled in eligible noncredit courses for the 1993-1994 fiscal 7 year, as determined by the audit referred to in paragraph 8 (i)[;]. 9 (B) [seventy] Seventy percent (70%) of the reimbursement 10 factor multiplied by the number of equivalent full-time students 11 enrolled in eligible noncredit courses for the 1994-1995 fiscal 12 year and for each year thereafter, as determined by the audit 13 referred to in paragraph (i)[; or]. 14 (C) [one] One hundred percent (100%) of the reimbursement 15 factor multiplied by the number of equivalent full-time students 16 enrolled in eligible noncredit public safety courses that 17 provide training for volunteer firefighters and emergency 18 medical services for the 1995-1996 fiscal year and for each year 19 thereafter, as determined by the audit referred to in paragraph 20 (i). 21 (D) A noncredit course is eligible for reimbursement if all 22 of the following apply: 23 (I) The course is in the area of public safety; adult basic 24 education or adult literacy; occupational skills; academics; or 25 a program for certification in accordance with standards 26 established by statute, regulation or appropriate industry. 27 (II) Regardless of whether the instructor's compensation is 28 paid directly by the community college or paid by an entity that 29 contracts with the community college, the community college is 30 responsible for selecting; supervising; and, if appropriate, 20050S0142B0129 - 7 -
1 dismissing the instructor. 2 (E) Course enrollment is to be determined by the standards 3 of the community college. 4 (iii) Stipend reimbursement on account of a community 5 college's operating costs for all equivalent full-time students 6 enrolled in the following categories of two-year or less than 7 two-year occupational or technical programs, shall be the sum of 8 the following: 9 (A) One thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100) per full-time 10 equivalent student enrolled in advanced technology programs. For 11 the fiscal year 1995-1996, 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, the 12 reimbursement rate shall be calculated at one thousand one 13 hundred seventy-five dollars ($1,175) per full-time equivalent 14 student enrolled in advanced technology programs. For the fiscal 15 year 1998-1999 and each year thereafter, the reimbursement rate 16 shall be calculated at one thousand four hundred sixty dollars 17 ($1,460) per full-time equivalent student enrolled in advanced 18 technology programs. Advanced technology programs are programs 19 using new or advanced technologies which hold promise for 20 creating new job opportunities, including such fields as 21 robotics, biotechnology, specialized materials and engineering 22 and engineering-related programs. 23 (B) One thousand dollars ($1,000) per full-time equivalent 24 student enrolled in programs designated as Statewide programs. 25 For the fiscal year 1995-1996, 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, the 26 reimbursement rate shall be calculated at one thousand seventy- 27 five dollars ($1,075) per full-time equivalent student enrolled 28 in programs designated as Statewide programs. For the fiscal 29 year 1998-1999 and each year thereafter, the reimbursement rate 30 shall be calculated at one thousand three hundred sixty dollars 20050S0142B0129 - 8 -
1 ($1,360) per full-time equivalent student enrolled in programs 2 designated as Statewide programs. A Statewide program is a 3 program which meets one or more of the following criteria: 4 (I) Program enrollment from out-of-sponsor area is twenty 5 per cent or more of the enrollment for the program. 6 (II) A consortial arrangement exists with another community 7 college to cooperatively operate a program or share regions in 8 order to avoid unnecessary program duplication. 9 (C) Five hundred dollars ($500) per full-time equivalent 10 student enrolled in other occupational or technical programs. 11 For the fiscal year 1995-1996, 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, the 12 reimbursement rate shall be calculated at five hundred seventy- 13 five dollars ($575) per full-time equivalent student enrolled in 14 other occupational or technical programs. For the fiscal year 15 1998-1999 and each year thereafter, the reimbursement rate shall 16 be calculated at eight hundred sixty dollars ($860) per full- 17 time equivalent student enrolled in other occupational or 18 technical programs. 19 (2) For the 1993-1994 fiscal year, each community college 20 shall be reimbursed under clause (1) in an amount which is at 21 least equal to a one percent (1%) increase over its 1992-1993 22 operating cost and stipend reimbursement. In no case shall a 23 community college's 1993-1994 reimbursement under clause (1) per 24 full-time equivalent student, insofar as said reimbursement does 25 not include a proportionate share attributable to stipend 26 reimbursement under clause (1.4)(iii), exceed its 1992-1993 27 operating cost reimbursement per full-time equivalent student by 28 more than ten percent (10%). 29 (2.1) For the 1994-1995 fiscal year, each community college 30 shall be reimbursed under clause (1) in an amount which is at 20050S0142B0129 - 9 -
1 least equal to a one percent (1%) increase over its 1993-1994 2 reimbursement under clause (1). In no case shall a community 3 college's 1994-1995 reimbursement under clause (1) per full-time 4 equivalent student, insofar as said reimbursement does not 5 include the proportionate share attributable to stipend 6 reimbursement under clause (1.4)(iii), exceed its 1993-1994 7 reimbursement under clause (1) per full-time equivalent student, 8 insofar as said reimbursement does not include the proportionate 9 share attributable to stipend reimbursement under clause 10 (1.4)(iii) by more than ten percent (10%). 11 (2.2) For the 1995-1996 fiscal year, each community college 12 shall be reimbursed under clause (1) in an amount which is at 13 least equal to its 1994-1995 reimbursement under clause (1). 14 (3) The [Secretary] Department of Education [annually] shall 15 [establish] promulgate regulations establishing criteria to be 16 used to determine eligibility of programs for each of the above 17 stipend categories[,]. The department shall approve programs for 18 funding [in the following fiscal year] according to these 19 [criteria and] regulations. The Secretary of Education shall 20 submit to chairmen of the committees of education in the House 21 of Representatives and Senate a report setting forth [the 22 established criteria,] any programs approved for funding under 23 these [criteria] regulations and the recipient community 24 colleges. 25 (4) Each community college shall maintain such accounting 26 and student attendance records on generally accepted auditing 27 principles and standards [as will lend themselves to 28 satisfactory audit]. The department must complete an audit of a 29 community college for a school year within one year after the 30 completion of that school year. If the department does not meet 20050S0142B0129 - 10 -
1 the time requirement of this clause, the community college 2 affected shall be required to forfeit reimbursement only for an 3 intentional violation or for a violation of previously cited and 4 resolved findings. The Commonwealth shall pay to a community 5 college on behalf of the sponsor on account of its capital 6 expenses an amount equal to one-half of such college's annual 7 capital expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose to the 8 extent that said capital expenses have been approved as herein 9 provided. 10 (5) For purposes of determining Commonwealth reimbursement 11 of operating costs, Federally funded expenditures for those 12 programs in which the Commonwealth participates in the cost 13 shall be deducted from total operating expenditures to determine 14 net reimbursable operating costs. 15 (c) Capital expenses shall mean only such expenses as are 16 incurred with the approval of the Department of Education for 17 amortization of the purchase of lands; purchase, construction or 18 improvement of buildings for administrative and instructional 19 purposes, including libraries; the lease of lands or buildings, 20 or for rentals to an authority for the same purpose; and for the 21 purchase, lease or rental of capital equipment and furniture 22 used for instructional or administrative purposes. Capital 23 expenses shall include library books and complementary audio- 24 visual equipment purchased during the first five years after 25 establishment. For the purpose of calculating the Commonwealth's 26 share of operating, and capital costs incurred prior to the 27 actual admission of students to a community college, all such 28 costs shall be interpreted as capital costs. No costs and 29 expenses incurred in the establishment, construction, operation 30 or maintenance of dormitories, or the equipment or furnishings 20050S0142B0129 - 11 -
1 for such purposes, shall be included in capital expenses or 2 operating costs for purposes of Commonwealth reimbursement. The 3 provisions of this subsection shall not prevent the Commonwealth 4 from reimbursing a community college for capital expenses 5 incurred prior to the effective date of this act. Such 6 reimbursement must have approval of the Secretary of Education. 7 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt policies, 8 standards, rules and regulations for determining reimbursable 9 capital expenses and operating costs, and the Department of 10 Education shall approve such expenses and costs for the purpose 11 of reimbursement by the Commonwealth. 12 (e) The State Board of Education shall apply for, receive 13 and administer, subject to any applicable regulations or laws of 14 the Federal Government or any agency thereof, any Federal 15 grants, appropriations, allocations and programs to fulfill the 16 purpose of this act. 17 (f) All administrative personnel, faculty, and other 18 employes of the community colleges in the Commonwealth shall be 19 eligible for inclusion in the Public School Employees' 20 Retirement System of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State 21 Employees' Retirement System, or any independent retirement 22 program approved by the Board of Trustees of a community 23 college, and the Secretary of Education. 24 (g) The community college in the Commonwealth shall be 25 eligible for participation in the act of July 5, 1947 (P.L.1217, 26 No.498), known as the "State Public School Building Authority 27 Act," and the act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382, No.164), known as the 28 "Municipality Authorities Act of 1945." 29 (h) In all cases where the board of trustees of any 30 community college fails to pay or provide for the payment of any 20050S0142B0129 - 12 -
1 rental or rentals due the State Public School Building Authority 2 or any municipality authority for any period in accordance with 3 the terms of any lease entered into between the board of 4 trustees of any community college and the State Public School 5 Building Authority or any municipality authority, or fails to 6 pay or to provide for the payment of any other indebtedness when 7 due, upon written notice thereof from the State Public School 8 Building Authority or any municipality authority, or in such 9 cases where an audit reveals any unpaid indebtedness due, the 10 Secretary of Education shall notify the board of trustees of its 11 obligation and shall withhold out of any State appropriation 12 that may be due to such community college an amount equal to the 13 amount of rental or rentals owing by such board of trustees to 14 the State Public School Building Authority or any municipality 15 authority, or an amount equal to the amount of any other 16 indebtedness owing by such board of trustees, and shall pay over 17 the amount or amounts so withheld to the State Public School 18 Building Authority or any municipality authority or to 19 whomsoever any other indebtedness is due and owing. 20 (i) The amount payable to each community college Board of 21 Trustees on behalf of the sponsor shall be paid in the year in 22 which the costs and expenses are incurred in quarterly 23 installments and the Secretary of Education shall draw his 24 requisition quarterly upon the State Treasurer in favor of each 25 community college for the amount of reimbursement to which it is 26 entitled. Reimbursement or payment by the Commonwealth for the 27 operational expenses and capital equipment and the furnishings 28 shall be made on or before the end of the fiscal quarters ended 29 on September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30 of each 30 Commonwealth fiscal year. Reimbursements or payments shall be 20050S0142B0129 - 13 -
1 made semi-annually for the Commonwealth's share of the annual 2 rentals to an authority or the sponsor or sinking fund or debt- 3 service payments and other leases upon submission of a community 4 college requisition in the form required by the Commonwealth, 5 the reimbursement or payment to be made from funds appropriated 6 for that purpose. Money that is appropriated under this 7 subsection but not expended by a community college Board of 8 Trustees shall not be distributed to a local sponsor. 9 (j) In no event shall the payments or final reimbursement 10 made by the department following audit exceed the appropriation 11 available for community colleges. 12 (k) (1) Unless otherwise prescribed by the State Board of 13 Education, the Commonwealth's fiscal audits of community 14 colleges under this section shall be conducted in accordance 15 with "Government Auditing Standards," latest revision, 16 promulgated by the United States General Accounting Office. 17 Written audit reports will be produced and will be sent to the 18 community college by the Commissioner of Postsecondary/Higher 19 Education. Any cost disallowed under findings contained in the 20 audit report shall be considered an adjudication within the 21 meaning of 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and 22 procedure) and regulations promulgated thereunder. 23 (2) The Secretary of Education is hereby specifically 24 authorized and shall be required to resolve audit findings 25 involving disallowed costs that are contested by community 26 colleges except for audit findings that involve mathematical 27 errors, violation of regulations or alleged illegal activities. 28 The proposed resolution of the Secretary of Education shall not 29 be subject to the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. The Secretary of 30 Education's notice to resolve audit findings shall be sent to 20050S0142B0129 - 14 -
1 the community college in writing. The Secretary of Education may
2 resolve the audit findings by reducing the disallowed costs
3 related thereto in whole or in part.
4 (3) The Secretary of Education's notice to resolve an audit
5 finding by reducing or eliminating the disallowed costs must be
6 made contingent upon the community college developing and
7 implementing a corrective action plan to address the audit
8 finding. The community college must submit a corrective action
9 plan to the Secretary of Education within 60 business days after
10 receipt of the Secretary of Education's written notice to
11 resolve the audit finding. The Secretary of Education shall
12 approve, reject or alter the plan submitted by the community
13 college within thirty (30) days of submission. After the
14 community college receives written notice of approval or agrees
15 in writing to the Secretary of Education's alterations of the
16 corrective action plan, said plan shall be implemented and shall
17 be binding on the community college. Implementation of the
18 approved or agreed upon corrective action plan will be verified
19 by an audit conducted by the department no later than the end of
20 the fiscal year following the fiscal year during which the plan
21 is implemented. If no agreed upon corrective action plan is in
22 place within one year after the date of the Secretary of
23 Education's written notice to resolve audit findings or if the
24 agreed upon corrective action has not been implemented within
25 one year after the date of the Secretary of Education's written
26 notice to resolve the audit findings, then the Secretary of
27 Education is authorized to adjust payments to the community
28 college to collect any amounts due based upon the findings
29 contained in the audit report that was issued to the college by
30 the commissioner.
20050S0142B0129 - 15 -
1 (4) The department shall deduct any amounts due the 2 Commonwealth as a result of audit findings that are resolved 3 under this subsection from any future payment due to the 4 community college from the Commonwealth. The Secretary of 5 Education is authorized to approve a payment schedule in cases 6 where immediate repayment of the full amount due the 7 Commonwealth would jeopardize the ability of the community 8 college to continue operations. 9 (5) Resolution authority provided to the Secretary of 10 Education in this subsection shall be limited to disallowed cost 11 findings relating to policy and/or administrative practices. The 12 resolution authority shall not be used for audit findings in 13 which the audited community college data and documentation is in 14 error, where a violation of applicable law or regulation is 15 found or where criminal violations are suspected by the 16 Commonwealth auditors and brought to the Secretary of 17 Education's attention in writing. Notwithstanding the 18 limitations of this subsection, until June 30, 1995, the 19 Secretary of Education is authorized to resolve audit findings 20 involving disallowed costs for fiscal years prior to and 21 including 1992-1993 when such disallowed costs result from 22 violation of regulations. 23 (6) The department, through the Secretary of Education, is 24 authorized to issue guidelines for the operation of the 25 community college educational and financial programs. The 26 department shall amend these guidelines on an annual basis to 27 reflect the department's position on issues that require 28 resolution under this subsection. 29 (7) The provisions of subsection (d) are repealed insofar as 30 they are inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection. 20050S0142B0129 - 16 -
1 (l) For the fiscal year 1992-1993, if insufficient funds are 2 appropriated to make Commonwealth payments pursuant to this 3 section, such payments shall be made on a pro rata basis. 4 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read: 5 Section 1917-A. Community College Nonmandated Capital 6 Fund.--(a) The Community College Deferred Maintenance Fund is 7 established as a separate fund in the State Treasury. 8 (b) The sources of the fund are as follows: 9 (1) Reimbursements repaid by community colleges to the 10 Commonwealth pursuant to audits under section 1913-A and 11 regulations under that section. 12 (2) Appropriations. 13 (3) Earnings on money in the fund. 14 (c) The fund shall be used for deferred maintenance projects 15 in community colleges. Guidelines for disbursement shall be 16 developed by the Department of Education in consultation with 17 community colleges. 18 (d) The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to 19 the fund and shall not lapse at the end of any fiscal year. 20 Section 4. The following provisions of 22 Pa.Code are 21 abrogated: 22 (1) 35.61(f)(2). 23 (2) 335.22(3). 24 Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A3L24JAM/20050S0142B0129 - 17 -