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Committee adopts substitute to let ACT WorkKeys credentials transfer to technical degrees
Summary
The Committee on Education adopted a substitute to House Bill 25-30 that would amend existing state law to allow credentials earned from career-readiness assessments such as ACT WorkKeys to transfer as credit toward postsecondary technical degrees; the substitute clarifies definitions and removes redundant statutory language.
Madam Chair opened debate on House Bill 25-30 and presented a substitute that would amend existing state law to allow credentials earned through career-readiness assessments to be treated as transferable credit toward postsecondary technical degrees.
Jason, the committeereviser, told the panel the substitute avoids creating a new, redundant statute by adding a new subsection to the existing statute (referred to in committee as 72-51-79) that incorporates the transferability provision and adds a definition of "postsecondary educational institution." "Any language that is underlined is new language to be added to the statute," Jason said, describing the substitute as a reprint that would appear in tomorrows packets if adopted.
The substitute narrows the original bills approach by amending current law rather than enacting a separate statute and preserves the use of recognized credential tiers (described in committee as platinum, gold or silver) tied to assessments such as ACT WorkKeys. Committee members asked procedural questions about whether additional public hearings were required; the chair and Jason said the substitute was substantially the same as prior filings and did not require a new hearing. Representative McNorton asked for additional conferee testimony if warranted, but the committee concluded the changes were technical and clarifying.
Madam Chair moved adoption of the substitute; Representative Hubert seconded. The committee adopted the substitute without recorded opposition and later moved to pass the bill as amended. The committee indicated the revised bill would be reprinted as the substitute draft for future consideration on the House floor.
The committee did not take up further policy changes to transferability beyond the substitute; questions about implementation (for example, the specific mechanics colleges and technical schools would use to accept credentials as credit) were left to the State Board of Education and postsecondary institutions to resolve under existing practice and the substitutes definitions.
The committee paused final floor action until a member returned from testifying in another committee, and then completed the record on the bill later in the session.
