HB0103 Crum, Joe Clay

P R E F I L E D

HB 103 -- Linn Technical College

This bill establishes the East Campus of Linn Technical College as a new, statewide, public institution of postsecondary education subject to the facilities, equipment, property and cash reserves being given to the state by the Osage R-II School District. The new school will be known as Linn State Technical College and will be a special purpose institution that provides vocational and technical programs leading to the granting of certificates, diplomas, and applied science associate degrees. The school will not offer associate of arts, baccalaureate, or higher degrees.

The Governor will appoint a governing board of 7 voting members and one non-voting student member. Members will receive expenses while attending meetings of the board.

Linn State Technical College will be under the oversight of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and of the State Board of Education to the extent that it serves as an area vocational technical school. Following approval of a 5-year institutional plan by the coordinating board, the state will provide the funds necessary to provide the staff, cost of operation, and payment of all new capital improvements beginning with the next full state fiscal year, subject to appropriations. The plan will assume that tuition will be comparable to public 4-year institutions rather than public 2-year institutions. Linn Technical College will be a qualified college for the purpose of student loans, scholarships and grants.

Employees of Linn Technical College prior to the effective date of the bill will be given an option of remaining in the public school retirement system or transferring to the Missouri state retirement system. New employees will be members of the state retirement system.