ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1227	By:	Ownbey, Hardin, Roberts (Dustin), Farley, Ritze, and Faught of the House

			      and

		Simpson, Brecheen and Allen of the Senate

An Act relating to higher education; transferring governance, supervision, management and control of the Ardmore Higher Education Program from the Board of Trustees for the Ardmore Higher Education Program to the Regional University System of Oklahoma; transferring all interests and obligations of the Board of Trustees and the Ardmore Higher Education Program; requiring assumption of obligations for tenure and retirement by the Regional University System of Oklahoma; requiring certain facilities to serve as branch campus in Ardmore of Southeastern Oklahoma State University; authorizing Regional University System of Oklahoma to provide resources to branch campus for certain purpose; requiring Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to make college credit courses and programs available to people of Ardmore and Southern Oklahoma; requiring establishment of branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore; providing for governance of Ardmore branch campus by Regional University System of Oklahoma; providing for lower division courses and programs to be offered by Murray State College with right to defer to Southeastern Oklahoma State University; establishing certain advisory board; providing for membership; stating duties; prohibiting duplication of certain courses and programs; providing for the continued relationship between certain institutions of higher education; providing Murray State College exclusive authority to offer certain courses; providing for a transition period; allowing East Central University to offer such courses as are mutually agreed to; providing that Southeastern Oklahoma State University shall be one of four educational providers; providing that no additional appropriations be used for certain purposes; repealing 70 O.S. 2001, Section 3213, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 73, O.S.L. 2009 (70 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 3213), which relates to the Ardmore Higher Education Program; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT:  Higher education

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3515.1 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.  The governance, supervision, management and control of the Ardmore Higher Education Program is hereby transferred from the Board of Trustees for the Ardmore Higher Education Program to the Regional University System of Oklahoma, and all interests in real property, facilities, equipment and appurtenances, state-appropriated monies and all duties, obligations and liabilities of the Ardmore Higher Education Program and any and all obligations of the Board of Trustees of the Ardmore Higher Education Program for and on behalf of the Ardmore Higher Education Program are transferred to the Regional University System of Oklahoma.  Obligations for any and all plans for tenure or retirement of employees of the Ardmore Higher Education Program, either through the Ardmore Higher Education Program or the Board of Trustees for the Ardmore Higher Education Program, shall be assumed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma.

B.  The facilities of the Ardmore Higher Education Program shall serve as the branch campus in Ardmore of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.  The Regional University System of Oklahoma may provide resources to the branch campus in Ardmore of Southeastern Oklahoma State University to maintain its facilities in accordance with its function and mission as provided by law.

C.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall make undergraduate and graduate college credit courses and programs available to the people of Ardmore and Southern Oklahoma.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall provide courses and programs through a branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, which shall be established and located in Ardmore.  The branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore shall be governed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma and administered through Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

D.  Murray State College shall have the exclusive authority to offer all lower division courses and programs at the branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore.

E.  The members serving on the Board of Trustees for the Ardmore Higher Education Program established pursuant to Section 3213 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes on the effective date of this act shall serve as an advisory board to the president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.  The advisory board shall advise the president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University on strategic directions for the branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore, including academic programming, student services, community relations, and institutional advancement.  The advisory board, in coordination with the president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, shall establish bylaws and membership of the advisory board.

F.  Courses offered at Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore shall not duplicate nursing program courses offered at East Central University campus at Ardmore.

G.  The consolidation of Ardmore Higher Education Center and Southeastern Oklahoma State University shall protect the continuing and historic relationship which exists between Ardmore Higher Education Center, Murray State College, East Central University and Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City.  Murray State College shall have the exclusive authority to offer all lower division level classes and programs at the branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore.  There shall be a transition period beginning on the effective date of this act and ending on September 1, 2014, during which East Central University shall be allowed to continue its historic course and program offerings.  After September 1, 2014, East Central University may offer programs and courses at the Ardmore Center which East Central University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University mutually agree are in the best interest of the community.  Southeastern Oklahoma State University shall assume management of Ardmore Higher Education Center and shall be one of four educational providers at the Ardmore Center, which shall include Murray State College, East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City.

H.  No additional appropriated dollars shall be used in the consolidation of the Ardmore Higher Education Center into Southeastern Oklahoma State University, nor shall appropriated dollars be used in the expansion of the existing campus or for the construction of a new campus in Ardmore.

SECTION 2.     REPEALER     70 O.S. 2001, Section 3213, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 73, O.S.L. 2009 (70 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 3213) is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective September 1, 2011.

Passed the House of Representatives the 21st day of April, 2011.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives

Passed the Senate the 18th day of April, 2011.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate