Title

Establishment of a Florida Community College System; establishment of a State Board of Community Colleges

Description

This amendment establishes a Florida Community College System as a system of governance for Florida’s 28 state colleges. Governance will shift away from the Board of Education, which currently oversees K-12 education. The state also establishes a State Board of Community Colleges, which shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Florida Community College System. The State Board of Community Colleges shall respond to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education.

Addition to the Florida Constitution

ARTICLE IX SECTION 8.             Florida Community College System. —

(a) PURPOSES. In order to provide a primary access point to undergraduate education to Floridians, and to respond quickly and efficiently to meet the demand of employers by aligning certificate and degree programs with regional workforce needs, the people hereby establish a system of governance for the Florida Community College System of Florida.

(b) FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. There shall be a single Florida Community College System comprised of all state colleges. A board of trustees shall administer each state college and a state college board shall govern the Florida Community College System.

(c) STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES. The State Board of Community Colleges shall be a body corporate consisting of thirteen members. The board shall operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the management of the whole Florida Community College System. These responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, defining the distinctive mission of each constituent state college and its articulation with free public schools and community colleges, ensuring the well-planned coordination and operation of the system, and avoiding wasteful duplication of facilities or programs. The board’s management shall be subject to the powers of the legislature to appropriate for the expenditure of funds, and the board shall account for such expenditures as provided by law. The governor shall appoint to the board twelve citizens dedicated to the purposes of the Florida Community College System one of whom must be a student currently enrolled in the Florida Community College System, and the Commissioner of Education. The appointed members shall be confirmed by the senate and serve staggered terms of four years as provided by law.