SJR85 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Del Marsh
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Community College Advisory Council on Outcome-Based Funding, created
Summary: Creates the Alabama Community College Advisory Council on Outcome-Based Funding to design a funding model that ties college money to student outcomes and statewide goals.
What This Bill Does
The bill establishes the Alabama Community College Advisory Council on Outcome-Based Funding with specified members, including the Chancellor, two trustees, the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and appointees from the House Speaker, Senate President Pro Tempore, and the Governor. The council is tasked with developing an outcome-based funding model for Education Trust Fund dollars allocated to publicly supported community and technical colleges, and may form ad hoc groups to help. The model must align funding with statewide priorities and student success, using productivity metrics and including measures such as degree or certificate completion, progression toward credentials, successful transfers, serving underrepresented students, and STEM/other high-demand field credentials; it must also align with any statewide education plans and goals. The council must report its findings by January 1, 2018, after which it is dissolved; legislative members serving on the council receive standard compensation, per diem, and travel expenses.

Who It Affects
Public community and technical colleges in Alabama, whose funding would be allocated using the new outcome-based model.
Alabama students, including underrepresented groups, whose completion, transfer, and credential attainment are targeted by the funding metrics.

Key Provisions
Creation of the Alabama Community College Advisory Council on Outcome-Based Funding.
Specified composition: Chancellor (or designee), two Board of Trustees members, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, one appointee from the House Speaker, one from the President Pro Tempore, and one appointee from the Governor.
A diversity clause requiring appointing authorities to ensure inclusive representation of race, gender, geography, and economy.
Authority to elect a chair and vice chair at the first meeting.
Requirement to develop an outcome-based funding model for Education Trust Fund allocations to community and technical colleges, with possible ad hoc working groups.
Model characteristics: align funding with statewide priorities and student success; use productivity metrics linked to attainment goals; align with statewide plans.
Metrics to consider: differences in institutional missions; completion of educational goals; progression toward degrees/certificates; transfer achievements; serving underrepresented students; STEM and other high-demand credentials; and other priorities set by the council.
Clerical assistance available upon request to support the council's work.
Mandatory reporting of findings to the Governor and the chairs of key legislative committees by January 1, 2018, after which the council is dissolved.
Legislative members receive regular compensation, per diem, and travel expenses for meetings, funded from legislative appropriations.

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