NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 09-032 BY SENATOR(S) Groff, Hudak, King K., Penry, Romer, Spence, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Carroll M., Foster, Gibbs, Heath, Hodge, Isgar, Keller, Kester, Lundberg, Mitchell, Morse, Newell, Renfroe, Sandoval, Schwartz, Shaffer B., Tochtrop, Veiga, White, Williams, Kopp; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Marostica and Todd, Carroll T., Gardner C., Massey, McNulty, Rice, Scanlan, Acree, Baumgardner, Kefalas, Kerr J., Middleton, Primavera, Ryden, Schafer S., Solano, Stephens, Summers. Concerning creation of the education innovation institute at the university of northern Colorado. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (a) The governor and the general assembly have resolved to align the public education system from preschool through postsecondary and workforce readiness with an objective of universal proficiency for all students, and this alignment requires public policy decisions that must be informed by reliable research data and analyses; and (b) The university of northern Colorado in Greeley is: (I) The primary institution for undergraduate and graduate degree programs for educational personnel preparation in the state of Colorado; and (II) A specialized graduate research university focusing on educational programs, models, and solutions. (2) Now, therefore, the general assembly declares that there shall be an education innovation institute at the university of northern Colorado in Greeley. The mission of the education innovation institute shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Collaborate with institutions to leverage research, funding, expertise, and other resources; (b) Discover and study innovations in teaching and learning; (c) Create, pilot, and advocate for innovations in educational delivery methods; (d) Produce data and analyses concerning issues including, but not limited to, the following: (I) Existing or nascent problems in education; (II) Models of innovative educational solutions; and (III) Financing and governance models for educational settings; (e) Provide public policy makers with data and analyses concerning: (I) Educational program effectiveness; and (II) Innovative options for public and private educational settings; (f) Identify innovative uses of existing school facilities in the state for the purpose of collaboration between elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions; and (g) Identify key issues and set research priorities in consultation with education experts, business and community leaders, public officials, and the governor's P-20 education coordinating council created pursuant to executive order B 003 07. SECTION 2. 23-40-101, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 23-40-101. University established - role and mission. (1) There is hereby established a university at Greeley, to be known as the university of northern Colorado. The university of northern Colorado shall be a comprehensive baccalaureate and specialized graduate research university with selective admission standards. (2) The university of northern Colorado shall be the primary institution for undergraduate and graduate degree programs for educational personnel preparation in the state of Colorado. The university shall offer masters and doctoral programs primarily in the field of education. The university of northern Colorado has the responsibility to offer on a statewide basis, utilizing where possible and appropriate the faculty and facilities of other educational institutions, those graduate-level programs needed by professional educators and education administrators. The Colorado commission on higher education shall include in its funding recommendations an appropriate level of general fund support for those programs. (3) As part of its mission as a graduate research university specializing in programs for educational personnel, the university of northern Colorado shall include the education innovation institute created in section 23-40-106 for the purposes described in section 23-40-106 (2). SECTION 3. Article 40 of title 23, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 23-40-106. Education innovation institute established - purposes - appropriations - report. (1) There is hereby established within the university of northern Colorado the education innovation institute, referred to in this section as the "institute". The university shall administer the institute. (2) The purposes of the institute shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Collaborate with institutions to leverage research, funding, expertise, and other resources; (b) Discover and study innovations in teaching and learning; (c) Create, pilot, and advocate for innovations in educational delivery methods; (d) Produce data and analyses concerning issues including, but not limited to, the following: (I) Existing or nascent problems in education; (II) Models of innovative educational solutions; and (III) Financing and governance models for educational settings; (e) Provide public policy makers with data and analyses concerning: (I) Educational program effectiveness; and (II) Innovative options for public and private educational settings; (f) Identify innovative uses of existing school facilities in the state for the purpose of collaboration between elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions; and (g) Identify key issues and set research priorities in consultation with education experts, business and community leaders, and public officials. (3) (a) The general assembly may appropriate moneys to the board of trustees of the university of northern Colorado for the administration of the institute. (b) The board of trustees of the university may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private sources to fund the institute. (4) On or before January 10, 2011, and on or before January 10 each year thereafter, the institute shall prepare and submit a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, concerning the activities of the institute in the previous calendar year. The report shall include, at a minimum, information concerning the efforts of the institute to fulfill its purposes as described in subsection (2) of this section. SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution, (August 4, 2009, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2009); except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor. ____________________________ ____________________________ Peter C. Groff Terrance D. Carroll PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Karen Goldman Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ Bill Ritter, Jr. GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO