NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/18/2012.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 12-045
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Hudak and King K., Bacon, Aguilar, Boyd, Cadman,
      Carroll, Foster, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hodge, Jahn, Johnston,
      Lambert, Lundberg, Morse, Neville, Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Schwartz,
      Spence, Steadman, Tochtrop, White, Williams S., Shaffer B.;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Massey and Fields, Holbert, Beezley, Casso,
      Conti, Fischer, Hamner, Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., Labuda, Murray, Nikkel,
      Pabon, Pace, Peniston, Priola, Ramirez, Ryden, Schafer S., Scott, Singer,
      Solano, Summers, Todd, Tyler, Williams A., Wilson, Young.
      
      
      Concerning granting associate degrees to students who transfer
           from a two-year institution.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-1-131 as
      follows:
      
           23-1-131.  Commission directive - associate degree completion
      program - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) (a)  The general
      assembly finds and declares that, due to the demands of a global
      economy, the state and the nation have an increasing need for
      individuals with a postsecondary credential or degree. Many
      students begin their postsecondary education in a two-year
      institution and transfer to a four-year institution prior to
      receiving an associate degree. Some students who subsequently
      accumulate the credit hours necessary for an associate degree
      while at the four-year institution, or who leave the four-year
      institution prior to completing a bachelor's degree, would benefit
      from the award of an associate degree. The award of an associate
      degree not only rewards the student's efforts in attaining
      postsecondary education, but also recognizes the investment of
      financial resources in postsecondary education by both the
      student and the state.
      
           (b)  Therefore, the general assembly declares that the
      state's two-year and four-year institutions should work in
      collaboration with the commission to develop a process that
      reduces a potential barrier to degree completion by providing
      students with information about the student's eligibility for an
      associate degree.
      
           (2)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
      requires:
      
           (a)  "Associate degree" means an associate of arts or
      associate of science degree.
      
           (b)  "Four-year institution" means a state-supported
      institution of higher education that is authorized to grant
      baccalaureate degrees.
      
           (c)  "Two-year institution" means a state-supported
      institution of higher education, or a local district college, that
      is authorized to grant associate degrees.
      
           (3) (a)  The commission shall collaborate with the governing
      boards of the two-year and four-year institutions to develop and
      coordinate a process to notify students concerning eligibility for
      the award of an associate degree. The notification process shall
      apply to students at a four-year institution who have
      accumulated seventy credit hours at a four-year institution and
      who transferred to the institution after completing the residency
      requirements for an associate degree at a two-year institution.
      The notification process developed pursuant to this section shall
      specify the role of the student, the department, and the two-year
      and four-year institutions in the process, with the role of the
      four-year institutions limited to providing contact information
      for eligible students. The notification process shall be
      implemented no later than the beginning of the 2013-14 academic
      year.
      
           (b)  The two-year and four-year institutions shall agree
      upon the contents of the notification to eligible students. At a
      minimum, the notification shall include the requirements for the
      degree audit by the two-year institution and information
      concerning the process for a student to be awarded an associate
      degree in the future if the degree requirements are not met or the
      student declines the associate degree at the time of the
      notification.
      
           (c)  Nothing in this section limits the ability of the governing
      boards of two-year and four-year institutions to develop reverse
      transfer agreements that are consistent with the intent of this
      section.
      
           (4)  Each two-year and four-year institution shall provide
      students with information concerning the process developed
      pursuant to this section.
      
           SECTION 2.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Brandon C. Shaffer                      Frank McNulty
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO