2008 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 48, Section 327

[COMMUNITY COLLEGES – TASK FORCE PLANNING STUDY]

Section 327.

(a)  There is created a community college planning task force to consist of the following:

(i)  The chairman of the senate education committee and two (2) additional members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, not more than one (1) of which shall be from the same political party.  The chairman, or another senate member designated by the chairman, shall serve as cochairman of the task force;

(ii)  The chairman of the house education committee and two (2) additional members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, not more than one (1) of which shall be from the same political party.  The chairman, or another house member designated by the chairman, shall serve as cochairman of the task force;

(iii)  Nine (9) members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A)  Two (2) representatives of community colleges to reflect academic and vocational missions of the colleges;

(B)  One (1) member representing the department of workforce services;

(C)  One (1) member representing the Wyoming travel, recreation and tourism industry;

(D)  One (1) representative of the Wyoming oil and gas industry;

(E)  One (1) representative of the Wyoming mining industry;

(F)  One (1) representative of the small business community in Wyoming;

(G)  One (1) representative of the Wyoming health care industry;

(H)  One (1) representative of the public.

(b)  The task force shall review and evaluate the existing community college system and in conjunction with the statewide college system strategic plan required under 2008 House Bill 0017, if enacted into law, develop recommendations to:

(i)  Conduct a statewide study on the current capacity level of the college system based upon established student population projections and projected state academic and workforce needs and provide estimates on recommended future capacity needs;

(ii)  Create a system which evaluates and prioritizes community college capital construction;

(iii)  Identify options for funding of community college capital construction;

(iv)  Allocate programming to meet the needs of students in the most cost effective manner;

(v)  Address the needs of industry in the development of a trained and skilled workforce;

(vi)  Restructure the governance of the community college system to provide for unified oversight and accountability;

(vii)  Explore a statewide community college system in respect to governance, revenue generation and representation on the commission; and

(viii)  Create a seamless educational system between K-12 to post secondary education.

(c)  Appointments shall be in sufficient time to enable the first meeting of the task force to be held not later than May 1, 2008.  Thereafter, task force meetings shall be scheduled upon the call of the cochairmen.

(d)  The task force may retain consultants as necessary to fulfill its duties under this section and shall administer contracts for consultants to the legislature as approved by management council.  The management council may expend funds appropriated under this section for contractual agreements between the council, on behalf of the task force, and professional consultants retained pursuant to this section.  The legislative service office, with the assistance of the Wyoming community college commission, shall staff the task force and state agencies shall provide information to the task force as requested in order to fulfill its duties.

(e)  Legislative members of the task force shall receive compensation, per diem and travel expenses in the manner and amount as prescribed by W.S. 28‑5‑101.  Remaining task force members who are not state employees shall receive the per diem and mileage at the rate paid members of the Wyoming legislature under W.S. 28‑5‑101 for each day of actual task force meetings and travel to those meetings.

(f)  The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the joint appropriations interim committee and the joint education interim committee by November 1, 2008.  The joint education interim committee shall forward any legislation necessary to implement task force recommendations in the 2009 legislative session.

(g) One hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office for the period commencing on the effective date of this section and ending March 31, 2010, as necessary to fund the community college planning task force in carrying out its duties under this section.

(h)  This section is effective immediately.

(j)  This section is repealed March 31, 2010.