Utah House approves overhaul creating Utah College of Applied Technology after floor amendments

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 1003 on June 20, 2001, a measure that restructures applied-technology education in the state by creating a Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) and transferring existing line-item funding and governance for regional applied-technology centers into the new college framework. The bill passed on a recorded vote of 50 yes and 22 no and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

Supporters said the bill concentrates staff, funding and program focus on competency-based applied-technology programs and aims to improve access in underserved mountain and rural regions. "This will focus the funds, the personnel, and the staff on the open entry, open exit competency based programs," the bill sponsor said during floor debate summarizing the substitute motion to amend. Representative Lockhart urged transparency for public appointments, arguing that "it's not too much to ask that that person's name be available for the public to take a look at."

The final measure was shaped on the floor by a string of amendments that addressed technical funding transfers, regional boundaries, governance appointments, course delivery and student representation.

Votes and notable floor changes

- Amendment 16 (Rep. Bigelow): Technical transfers of existing appropriations from former Applied Technology Centers to their successor regional Applied Technology Colleges; included moving $197,000 from the State Office of Education and a matching $197,000 from higher education system budgets into administrative UCAT accounts to cover staffing and FTEs. Amendment 16 remained in the package after a division vote; attached substitute amendment 18 (regional realignment to create a Wasatch-Summit ATC and split Mountain Lands funding) failed on a recorded vote (32 yes, 39 no).

- Amendment 11 (Rep. Curtis): Required public disclosure of final candidates for president positions submitted to the Board of Regents; adopted on the floor.

- Amendment 5 (Rep. Ferry), as substituted by Rep. Sidaway: Clarified that a regional higher-education institution has first opportunity to offer general-education courses required for an associate of applied-technology degree at the applied-technology college site, and that distance or electronic delivery may be used when on-site instruction is not provided; adopted after extended debate about delivery, tuition and FTE implications.

- Amendment 7 (Rep. Bennion / Lockhart language): Adjusted language about student member voting on the Board of Regents; the body divided the substitute motion and adopted the Lockhart changes in division votes that were recorded during the floor process.

- Amendment to replace "Richfield Center" with "Snow College South" (Rep. Johnson): adopted as a housekeeping correction.

- Title changes (Rep. Pace): Several instances of the title for regional superintendents were changed to "regional president;" adopted.

- An amendment proposed by Rep. Shermuth to alter language on competency-based high-school equivalency was debated and failed.

Debate highlights and concerns

Opponents and some members urged caution, citing unresolved questions about accreditation, transferability of credits between applied-technology programs and traditional higher education, and the risk of duplicating services. Representative Pace warned that many details about transferability and accreditation remain unresolved and suggested a pilot approach for underserved regions. Representative Bigelow cautioned against inserting too many additional policy changes into the bill and emphasized leaving complex accreditation and transfer decisions to cooperative agreements among UCAT, the Board of Regents and the State Board of Education.

What passed and next steps

With the floor amendments adopted, House Bill 1003 passed the House by a recorded vote of 50-22. The bill and the recorded amendments will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration. Lawmakers noted that several implementation details, including tuition arrangements for university-delivered general-education courses and inter-institutional credit transfer agreements, will require follow-up work by UCAT, the Board of Regents and the State Board of Education.

Votes at a glance

- Substitute motion (Harper package of amendments): adopted by voice vote on initial consideration. - Amendment 16 (Bigelow): retained in package (voice/division votes recorded on the floor). - Amendment 18 (attached substitute re: Mountain Lands split): failed, 32 yes, 39 no. - Amendment 11 (Curtis, finalists public): adopted (voice vote). - Amendment 5 (Ferry, Sidaway substitute on course delivery): adopted. - Amendment 7 (Bennion/Lockhart language on student voting): adopted in divided consideration. - House Bill 1003 (as amended): passed, 50 yes, 22 no.

The House adjourned to a recess after completing the bill and receiving communications from the Senate about other legislation.