The Community College Act of 1966
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Transcript of The Community College Act of 1966
The Community College Act of 1966
A Legal Framework for Michigan’s Community Colleges Luke Pickelman, J.D.
Constitutional Authorization – Convention of 1963Article VIII § 7 The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment and
financial support of public community and junior colleges which shall be supervised and controlled by locally elected boards. The legislature shall provide by law for a state board for public community and junior colleges which shall advise the state board of education concerning general supervision and planning for such colleges and requests for annual appropriations for their support. The board shall consist of eight members who shall hold office for terms of eight years, not more than two of which shall expire in the same year, and who shall be appointed by the state board of education. Vacancies shall be filled in like manner. The superintendent of public instruction shall be ex-officio a member of this board without the right to vote.
Legislative Response: Act 331 of 1966
Community College Act Part 1: Establishment by county, school
district or intermediate school district; board elections; taxation; annexation
Part 2: Powers and duties of districts and Boards of Trustees; Michigan New Jobs Training Program
District Makeup in Michigan 12 cc’s organized on a county basis 5 cc’s organized on school district (K-
12) basis 11 cc’s organized on an ISD basis
Part One: Establishment, Elections and Annexation Organizational election and board
composition General and Special Elections Annexation
Organizational Election
One or more contiguous counties, school districts or ISDs via: State Board approval (Superintendent
for ISDs) Electoral approval (majority) of proposed
district, maximum annual tax rate, and inaugural board election
Community College Elections PA 62 (2005) eliminated language in
CC Act dealing with community college elections, specifying that community college board candidates are to be nominated and elected in accordance with Michigan’s Election Law.
Board Composition
First Board of Trustees: 7 members with staggered terms from 6 years to 2 years long
Future Board of Trustees members: 6 year terms
Any qualified elector residing within the district is eligible to be a cc board member
Board Vacancies
Remaining members must fill vacancy by majority vote immediately and that person will hold seat until next election
If not filled within 30 days, the ISD for that district will fill the vacancy by appointment (MCL 389.152)
Annexation
District looking to expand serviced region must follow CC Act annexation procedures
Who can annex what? PA 488 (2000) amended CC Act to
remove limits on annexation opportunities
Annexation Procedure
Board resolution Superintendent approval Electoral approval from the entity to
be annexed Election timing for proposal Board composition implications
Part Two: Powers and Duties Generally:
CC’s are corporate bodies, they can sue and be sued, take, condemn, use, hold, sell, lease, and convey real property
Implied Powers:▪ In addition to the powers expressly stated in this act, a
community college district and its board of trustees may exercise a power implied by or incident to any of its powers expressly stated in this act and, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise a power incidental or appropriate to the performance of any function related to operation of the community college district in the interests of educational and other programs and services offered by the community college district.*
Community College Boards of Trustees Power is in the collective – majority
vote of members elected and proper record of vote
Compliance with Open Meetings Act
Enumerated Powers and Duties Tuition and fees Annual budget Tax levies Audits Hiring administration and employees Acquire, purchase or lease sites Programs of study Borrow money Energy conversation improvements Care and custody of property/facilities
Delegation – 1997 Amendment PA 135 (1997) - Included the implied and
incidental powers language and provided for specific delegation.
Powers that may be delegated: Select and employ personnel Pay claims and demands Purchase, lease, and acquire personal
property Invest Accept gifts and contributions
Powers not delegated
Adoption of a budget Establishing tuition and fees Levy of taxes Audits Acquisition of real estate and
construction Borrowing money Setting programs of study
Exemption from Taxation
CC Act exempts all community college district property from taxation and assessment
Board may agree with local municipality to pay for special assessments or local improvements
What is a community college? CC Act defines a “community
college” as: an educational institution providing collegiate
and non-collegiate level education primarily to individuals above the twelfth grade age level within commuting distance. The term includes an area vocational-technical education program that may result in the granting of an associate degree or other diploma or certificate, but not an educational institution or program granting baccalaureate or higher degrees.
Michigan New Jobs Training Program PA 359 (2008) – allows community
college district boards to enter into training agreements with employers who are creating new jobs in the state
Community colleges are paid back via the diversion of income taxes from new employee wages
Not as scary as statutory interpretation, but….
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!