HB199 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Postsecondary Education, State Board of, established, transfer of responsibility over two-year institutions of higher education from the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education to the State Board of Postsecondary Education and the State Department of Postsecondary Education, Secs. 16-60-110.1, 16-60-111, 16-60-111.10, 16-60-111.11, 16-60-111.12, 16-60-111.13, 16-60-111.14, 16-60-111.15, 16-60-111.16, 16-60-116, 16-60-117, 16-60-118 added; Secs. 16-60-110, 16-60-111.1, 16-60-111.2, 16-60-111.3, 16-60-111.4, 16-60-111.5, 16-60-111.6, 16-60-111.7, 16-60-111.8, 16-60-111.9, 16-60-112, 16-60-113, 16-60-114, 16-60-115 am'd.

Summary

HB199 would create an independent Alabama Community College System and transfer all two-year college governance and operations from the State Board of Education and the Department of Postsecondary Education to a new Board of Trustees and Chancellor within the ACC System.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Alabama Community College System as a separate state department, replacing the old Department of Postsecondary Education and moving oversight of community and technical colleges to a new Board of Trustees and their Chancellor. The Chancellor becomes the Chief Executive Officer of the ACC System, and the board gains authority over governance, budgeting, construction, staffing, and program rules for all two-year colleges. It transfers programs such as Adult Education, the State Approving Agency, and Private School Licensure for postsecondary proprietary schools from the SBOE to the ACC System, with staff transitions and protections. It also creates additional programs (including the Alabama Aviation College and incarcerated education) under the ACC System, allows regional governance development through a Workforce Development and Postsecondary Education Regionalization Task Force, and grants the system powers to borrow, issue bonds, manage property, and oversee regional workforce development.

Who It Affects

• Students and families in Alabama seeking two-year college education would be affected through centralized governance, potential changes in program coordination, funding, and services at community and technical colleges.
• Faculty, staff, and administrators at community and technical colleges (and related programs such as Adult Education and Private School Licensure) would transfer to the ACC System, with changes to supervision, employment terms, and benefits, while protections and retirement considerations are specified in the transfer provisions.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Community College System as a state department and replaces the Department of Postsecondary Education; transfers all duties for community and technical colleges to the new system.
• Establishes the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Community College System and defines its composition, including governor appointment, district representation, and ex officio members.
• Transfers authority from the State Board of Education to the ACC System for supervision, administration, naming, financing, construction, and operation of two-year colleges; SBOE references are replaced with the ACC System board where applicable.
• Designates the Chancellor as Chief Executive Officer of the ACC System, with appointment, term, and compensation provisions, and transfers related staff and budget responsibilities.
• Gives the board powers to borrow, issue bonds, pledge revenues, manage facilities, and oversee financial and capital projects for the ACC System and its colleges.
• Transfers the Adult Education program, State Approving Agency, and Private School Licensure program from SBOE/State Department of Education to the ACC System, including the associated employee transitions and protections.
• Adds new programs and authorities: Alabama Aviation College as part of the ACC System; incarcerated education and other workforce development programs; regionalization efforts to design regional governance for the system.
• Requires annual reporting to the Governor and budget planning for the ACC System; outlines oversight and governance expectations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Colleges and Universities