ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

SENATE TASK FORCE ON PROVISIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATUTES

Minutes of the Meeting

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

10:00 A.M., Senate Hearing Room 109

Members Present:

Senator Sylvia Allen	Kevin McCarthy
Robert Ashford	Linda O'Dell
Dr. Stephen Cullen	Michael Pastor
Dan Haapala	Jay Spehar
Tom Loeffler	Dr. Jeanne Swarthout

Members Excused:

Pete Kettner

Staff:

Stacey Morley, Senate Education Committee Analyst

Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. and attendance was noted.

Senator Allen asked the members to introduce themselves and announced there would be two presentations by Stacey Morley.

INTRODUCTIONS

• Linda O'Dell, Gila County School Superintendent
• Steve Cullen, Senior Dean, Gila Community College
• Tom Loeffler, Member, Gila Community College Board
• Dan Haapala, Retired News Director, KMOG Radio
• Kevin McCarthy, President, Arizona Tax Research Association
• Robert "Bob" Ashford, President, Gila Community College Governing Board
• Jeanne Swarthout, President, Northern Pioneer College
• Jay Spehar, Environmental Manager, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Miami, Arizona
• Michael "Mike" Pastor, Gila County Supervisor, District 5
• Senator Sylvia Allen, District 5

PRESENTATIONS

Background on Provisional Community College Statutes

Stacey Morley, Senate Education Research Analyst, distributed "Provisional Community College Districts Legislative History" (Attachment A).  She explained the following points:

¨ Community College Legislative History

· Laws 1999, Chapter 340 (HB 2437)

· Laws 2001, Chapter 258 (SB 1381)

· Laws 2002, Chapter 330 (HB 2170)

· Laws 2007, Chapter 13 (HB 2193)

· Laws 2010, Chapter 314 (HB 2113)

¨ Community College Funding

· Operating State Aid

· Equalization Aid

· Capital Outlay State Aid

· Provisional Community College Districts

· Tribal Assistance

· Rural County Reimbursement

· Fiscal History

· FY 2010 & FY 2011 Legislative Budget Action

¨ Gila Community College History and Finances

· Gila Provisional Community College District Funding History

Mike Gardner, Gila Provisional Community College, explained the background of  the funding for Eastern Arizona Community College.

Michael Hunter, Senior Policy Advisor, Republican Staff, distributed a list of funding for all counties for tax year 2009 (Attachment B) and addressed the issues.

TASK FORCE DISCUSSION

Goals and Objectives

Senator Allen stated that the task force's goal is to find a way for Gila Provisional Community College to become an independent operating community college.

The task force discussed the following points:

· Funding sources

· Budget information

· Equalization funding

· Work force development funding (Prop 301)

· State aid

· Tuition

· Property tax revenue

· Accreditation

Kristen Boilini, Northern Pioneer College, discussed "hold harmless" in funding formulas, operating state aid and recouping funds for growth.

Mr. Gardner discussed Proposition 301 and the relevant statutes.

Senator Allen assigned small workgroups to work on the following issues:

Institutional structure:  accreditation, transition, cost

      Robert Ashford

      Dr. Stephen Cullen

      Michael Pastor

      Dr. Jeanne Swarthout

Exploring statute changes, funding formulas, Higher Learning Commission

      Senator Allen

      Tom Loeffler

      Dan Haapala

      Jay Spehar

      Dr. Jeanne Swarthout

Resource document for community college funding

      Kevin McCarthy

FUTURE MEETINGS

To meet the third Wednesday of each month:

      June 16^th in Globe at 2:00 p.m.

      July   21^st in Payson at 2:00 p.m.

Mark Barnes, Community College President's Association, explained some of the funding formulas for community colleges.

Ryan Harper, Eastern Arizona Community College, discussed some of the connections between various funding formulas for community colleges.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Shelley Ponce

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

SENATE TASK FORCE ON

PROVISIONAL COMMUNITY

 COLLEGE STATUTES

May 19, 2010

Page 1

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------