Bill Text: NJ S4021 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-01-12 - Substituted by A5182 (2R) [S4021 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S4021-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Higher Education Committee on December 15, 2025, with amendments.
An Act concerning the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:64A-22 is amended to read as follows:
18A:64A-22. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Council of County Colleges [may] shall submit to the State Treasurer [annual budget requests] 1the Secretary of Higher Education,1 , the Governor, and the Legislature, an annual 1[unified]1 budget request for State support of county colleges to meet the colleges' 1and State's1 strategic priorities. Within the limits of funds appropriated for [such purposes] State support of the county colleges, the board of trustees of a county college may based upon the itemized statement fixed and determined pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-17 apply to the State Treasurer and receive State support:
a. For capital projects in amounts not to exceed one-half of the cost of [said] the capital projects, and
b. For operational costs to the extent of [43%] 43 percent but not to exceed [50%] 50 percent of the educational and general costs of the county colleges in the base year; provided, however, that for the purposes of determining State aid, only credit courses and noncredit remedial, developmental, general education development and adult basic education courses shall be included in calculating [such] the educational and general costs. This sum shall be distributed to the county colleges by the [treasurer] State Treasurer [in consultation with] pursuant to a performance-based formula developed by the Council of County Colleges [according to a formula that includes] and approved by the State Treasurer and the Secretary of Higher Education. The formula shall include categorical support and differential funding based on program costs and shall ensure that all county colleges receive funding in an equitable, results-oriented, and transparent manner. The council shall, every three years, provide to the State Treasurer and secretary any recommended improvements to the performance-based formula to ensure that State aid to the county colleges rewards postsecondary access, equity, and student success.
No county college shall receive more than [50%] 50 percent of its projected educational and general costs through the provisions of this act.
Each county which operates a county college shall continue to provide moneys for the support of the college in an amount no less than those moneys provided in the year in which this act is enacted or [25%] 25 percent of the operational expense in the base State fiscal year, whichever is greater.
State support for the operational expenses of county colleges shall be made within limits of State appropriation.
(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.134)
2. Section 6 of P.L.1989, c.141 (C.18A:64A-28.2) is amended to read as follows:
6. The council shall have perpetual succession and shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
a. To make, amend and repeal rules, regulations and bylaws for its own government and guidance, not inconsistent with the purposes of the council;
b. To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;
c. To maintain an office at such place or places in the State as it may designate;
d. To sue and be sued in its own name;
e. To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this article. All this property shall be exempt from taxation under chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes;
f. To act as an advocate and promote the advancement of the county [community] colleges of New Jersey; [and]
g. To promote diversity of development among the county [community] colleges in ways which [will] shall be responsive to the particular needs of the particular counties, and the State's diverse population and regions;
h. To develop and submit to the Governor, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a biennial strategic plan outlining a shared vision and set of goals for the county colleges, which are aligned with State educational and economic priorities, and recommending policy solutions to meet the needs of the State as well as the individuals and communities that the county colleges serve 1. The strategic plan shall be developed in consultation with State government agencies, county college faculty, staff, and students1;
i. To serve as 1[the primary] an1 advisory body to the 1[Governor, the Legislature, the Presidents' Council, the]1 Office of the Secretary of Higher Education1[, and all other State agencies]1 on any matter related to the county colleges, including consulting on the development and design of State laws, regulations, and State-funded pilot programs and grant programs that pertain to the county colleges;
j. To develop a performance-based formula to be used in the distribution of State operational aid to the county colleges, and recommending improvements to the State Treasurer and the secretary, pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-22;
k. To 1[serve as the primary vehicle for bringing together county colleges to implement Statewide initiatives pertaining to the county colleges, with a focus on:
(1) student success initiatives;
(2) academic innovations;
(3) efforts to support basic needs;
(4) financial aid and other programs targeted to assist specific populations of students;
(5) data- and outcomes-driven decisions; and
(6) professional development for county college faculty and staff and for other similar programs;] serve as a coordinating body that organizes and expands collaboration among the county colleges in a variety of areas impacting student success and institutional advancement1;
l. To provide contract services to State departments and agencies, as permitted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 5 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-10);
m. 1[ To enhance the availability of data through collaborations with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Education, and the New Jersey Statewide Data System with the goals of:
(1) developing improved labor market information;
(2) creating and maintaining an industry-valued credential list; and
(3) developing improved data on county colleges and making that data publicly available to assist decision making by county colleges, students, employers, policymakers, and other interested parties;
n.]1 To ensure strong collaboration, and provide guidance, on academic issues by undertaking activities including, but not limited to:
(1) maintaining a Statewide general education framework for county colleges 1[to ensure seamless transfer of credits and approve general education courses delivered by county colleges, consistent with the provisions of the Statewide transfer agreement developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46)]1;
(2) approving credit courses used in calculating the educational and general costs for the purposes of determining State operating aid to county colleges pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-22;
(3) 1[developing and maintaining a unified directory of academic programs; and
(4) developing policies and initiatives to expand academic and workforce-related dual enrollment, provide credit for prior learning opportunities, and improve the transfer experience;
o. To support collaboration and improve efficiency among the county colleges by:
(1)]1 operating a Community College Joint Purchasing Consortium, in accordance with section 3 of P.L.2015, c.140 (C.18A:64A-28.2a), that seeks economies in the purchase of goods and services by increasing efficiency, reducing redundancy, sharing services, and promoting regional collaboration and contracting where appropriate;
1[(2)] (4)1 convening county college leaders to share promising practices and identify opportunities for collaboration;
1[(3)] (5)1 undertaking and promoting professional development for faculty and staff; and
1[(4)] (6)1 collaborating on the marketing and promotion of county colleges;
1[p.] n.1 To serve as a 1[unified lead]1 partner with Statewide business, labor, education, and community organizations to advance equity, opportunity, and prosperity in New Jersey;
1[q.] o.1 To build strong partnerships with employers, elementary and secondary schools, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions, workforce development boards, and community-based organizations in developing the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative 1[and in designing new academic and workforce education and training pathways aligned with the needs of the economy]1. To accomplish these responsibilities, the council shall:
(1) 1work in collaboration with State agencies and authorities to1 create and document transparent, portable, and stackable credentials and lifelong education and learning for students and workers with a focus on work-based learning opportunities, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, credit for prior learning, lifelong learning accounts, and other models;
(2) annually provide a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), with recommendations for improving equity, labor market outcomes, economic mobility, and employer satisfaction and input from employers on future workforce priorities and needed skills; and
(3) assist the Governor, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and other State agencies in planning for the attraction and retention of businesses, including the design of new open-source curricula and new credentials to reflect evolving employer technology and needed skills and the development and promotion of county college programs that prepare workers for the impact of new technology;
1[r.] p.1 To facilitate county college requests for capital funding pursuant to P.L.1971, c.12 (C.18A:64A-22.1 et seq.) and work in consultation with the State Treasurer to determine capital projects for which funding shall be allocated; and
1[s.] q.1 To assist in the administration of funds provided to county colleges pursuant to the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, Pub.L.109-270 (20 U.S.C. s.2301 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.1989, c.141, s.6)
3. Section 8 of P.L.1989, c.141 (C.18A:64A-28.4) is amended to read as follows:
8. The council shall encourage and aid movements which it deems necessary for the improvement of county college education and ensure collaboration among the county colleges on academic issues. The council shall, from time to time, make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature [and Commission on Higher Education regarding the coordination of the county colleges on matters of mutual interest and concern] , the Presidents' Council, 1and1 the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education1[, and all other State agencies on any issue concerning the county colleges, pursuant to its authority as the primary advisory body on county college issues]1.
(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.148)
4. N.J.S.18A:64A-29 is amended to read as follows:
18A:64A-29. The council [will] shall seek to ensure acceptable and effective lines of development in admissions policy, academic standards, programs, financing, including [recommending to the State Treasurer a] the requirement enumerated in N.J.S.18A:64A-22 that the council develop a performance-based formula for the allocation of annual appropriations among the county colleges and making recommendations for capital funding, and community relations in the several county colleges.
The council [will] shall serve as a means of communication between the county colleges, and act as a resource center to aid them in planning, act as a clearing house of information, and provide continuing field services.
The council [will] shall act as [an] 1[the primary] an1 advisory body to the Governor, the Legislature, [Commission on Higher Education and] 1the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and1, the Presidents' Council [in the carrying out of their respective duties and responsibilities deriving from this chapter] 1[, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and all other State agencies on any issue concerning the county colleges]1.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.46, s.42)
5. Section 5 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-10) is amended to read as follows:
5. Any such purchase, contract or agreement may be made, negotiated or awarded pursuant to section 3 of [this act] P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-8) when:
(a) the purchase is to be made from, or the contract to be made with, the Federal or any State Government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including the New Jersey Council of County Colleges; or
(b) the public exigency requires the immediate delivery of the articles or performance of the service; or
(c) only 1 source of supply is available; or
(d) more favorable terms can be obtained from a primary source of supply; or
(e) articles of wearing apparel are to be purchased which are styled or seasonal in character; or
(f) commodities traded on a national commodity exchange are to be purchased and fluctuations of the market require immediate action; or
(g) the equipment to be purchased is of a technical nature and the procurement thereof without advertising is necessary in order to assure standardization of equipment and interchangeability of parts in the public interest.
(cf: P.L.1954, c.48, s.5)
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
