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Minutes for HB2287 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Establishing the Kansas promise scholarship act to provide scholarships to students who attend postsecondary educational programs that correspond to high-need career fields.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 23, 2021
Chairperson Baumgardner opened the hearing on SB2287.
Tamera Lawrence, Senior Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 4)
Heather Morgan, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Community College Trustees (KSCCT), said the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act is not just another scholarship program but will be a new innovative economic development tool addressing the most pressing challenge facing Kansas businesses, a skilled workforce shortage. This Scholarship will be a "last dollar" program and targets the most in-demand occupation fields in the state increasing access to community and technical college education for Kansas high school graduates. A crucial component of the bill is the requirement that the student reside in Kansas two years post certificate or associates degree completion.
As a last dollar program, this Act may not be as expensive as one may think as it kicks-in after all other scholarship and Pell Grant Dollars are applied to the student's tuition, fees, and textbook/material obligations. The Kansas Promise Act would help the lower middle-class students whose parents make a little too much to qualify for a Pell Grant but are unable to pay for their child's education requiring them to take on student loans. Included in the bill is a provision which will allow for claw-back of the scholarship funds through either the state set-off program or collection companies to ensure students who receive this scholarship uphold the two-year working requirement.
This bill as introduced directs the Kansas Board of Regents to work with the Kansas Department of Commerce and business and industry to determine which fields in the Kansas economy are most in demand. We encourage careful attention to this provision of the bill to ensure that both statewide needs as well as regional workforce demand needs are take into consideration when determining eligible program areas.
This great idea is not a new concept across the United States as at least 16 other states have programs with some similar components. There are many details to be worked out to successfully implement this program but Kansas Community Colleges stand ready to assist in any way possible in implementing this and delivering the workforce training education needed to ensure Kansas businesses have the talent they need to be successful. (Attachment 5)
Matt Lindsey, President, Kansas Independent College Association (KICA), reported that KICA institutions awarded 238 associates degrees and 94 certificates last academic year. These are mostly concentrated in a handful of institutions which are shown at the end of this written testimony. KICA is grateful the bill ensures that associate's degree and technical degree programs at accredited non-profit colleges in Kansas are included as eligible programs for students to receive support through this Kansas Promise Scholarship Act.
There are two areas of concern regarding this bill:
- The delegation of authority to determine the ten "high-need" fields to the Board of Regents and Kansas Department of Commerce. "High-need" is a poorly defined term. The industries could vary widely over time and have the potential for regulatory capture due to inertia.
- The community service requirement is likely to be extremely difficult to assess accurately for small, under-staffed colleges like most of those in KICA. This creates a bureaucratic step that may limit the bill's effectiveness in achieving its core aim. It is recommended that this requirement be removed. (Attachment 6)
Jason Watkins, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, believes this bill serves as a critical tool in meeting the needs of businesses in the Wichita region. More skilled workers are needed who have training and expertise expected of employees in the advanced manufacturing, building trades, IT, and healthcare sectors.
The Chamber members have identified workforce development and education as a key priority to fostering greater prosperity and growth. This bill provides one of many solutions believed necessary to building tomorrow's workforce.
Several years ago, this body adopted SB155, extending technical education to students while in high school and it has been a resounding success. This bill builds upon that success and makes affording a technical education an option for more young Kansans. (Attachment 7)
Proponent Written Testimony was submitted by the following:
Blake Flanders, President and CEO, Kansas Board of Regents (Attachment 8)
Eric Stafford, Vice President of Government Affairs, Kansas Chamber (Attachment 9)
Mike Gibson, Executive Vice President, Associated General Contractors of Kansas (Attachment 10)
Jessica Lucas, Government Affairs Liaison, Cowley College (Attachment 11)
Randy Stookey, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel, Kansas Grain and Feed Assn., Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Assn., Renew Kansas Biofuels Assn. (Attachment 12)
Kevin Walker, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 13)
Leah Fliter, Director of Governmental Relations, Kansas Association of School Boards (Attachment 14)
Torree Pederson, President/CEO Aligned (Attachment 15)
Jerry B. Farley, President, Washburn University (Attachment 16)
Kate Allen, Advancement and Government Affairs, Johnson County Community College (Attachment 17)
No Opponent or Neutral Testimony was submitted.
Seeing on other Conferees, the Chair closed the hearing on HB2287.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 PM.
The next meeting will be held March 25, 2021, 1:30 PM in Room 144-S.
