NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 3/24/2012.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 12-1072
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Massey and Fields, Holbert, Becker, Beezley,
      Casso, Court, Duran, Fischer, Gerou, Hamner, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr A.,
      Labuda, Looper, Murray, Nikkel, Pabon, Pace, Schafer S., Solano,
      Stephens, Summers, Todd, Williams A., Wilson, Young;
      also SENATOR(S) Bacon and King K., Hudak, Aguilar, Boyd, Cadman,
      Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hodge, Jahn, Johnston, King S.,
      Lambert, Neville, Newell, Renfroe, Roberts, Schwartz, Spence, Tochtrop,
      White, Williams S., Shaffer B.
      
      
      Concerning credit for prior learning in higher education.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly
      finds that:
      
           (a)  Many adults entering Colorado community colleges, state
      colleges, and universities have acquired college-level knowledge in the
      workplace, through military service, in the community, or through
      independent study;
      
           (b)  A student can save time and money in completing a certificate
      or degree program if the institution at which the student enrolls assesses the
      student's college-level knowledge and awards academic credit as
      appropriate based on the assessment;
      
           (c)  Awarding academic credit for a student's prior learning will
      increase the likelihood that the student will complete his or her certificate
      or degree and achieve his or her academic and economic goals; and
      
           (d)  Colorado's economic development depends upon a
      well-educated workforce with the academic credentials necessary to
      compete in the job market.
      
           (2)  Therefore, the general assembly declares that it is beneficial to
      students and to the development of an educated workforce in Colorado for
      community colleges and other public institutions of higher education to
      develop a policy or program to recognize a student's college-level learning
      that takes place outside of the classroom.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-1-125, amend (5)
      (e) (III); and add (4.5) as follows:
      
           23-1-125.  Commission directive - student bill of rights - degree
      requirements - implementation of core courses - competency test - prior
      learning. (4.5)  Prior learning. Beginning in the 2013-14 academic
      year, each public institution of higher education shall adopt and
      make public a policy or program to determine academic credit for
      prior learning.
      
           (5)  Nonpublic institutions of higher education. (e)  As used in this
      subsection (5), "nonpublic institution of higher education" means an
      educational institution operating in this state that:
      
           (III)  Is accredited by a regional an accrediting agency or association
      approved by the United States department of education;
      
           SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      8, 2012, if adjournment sine die is on May 9, 2012); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2012
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Frank McNulty                      Brandon C. Shaffer
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                      Cindi L. Markwell
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO