Bill > SB0216

This bill modifies how higher education institutions in Utah are funded by adjusting reporting requirements for the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, clarifying definitions related to "high-demand" jobs, and establishing new frameworks for enrollment and performance-based funding. Specifically, it updates the types of reports submitted to the subcommittee, including those on workforce needs and talent advisory councils, and ensures that performance and growth funding formulas for technical colleges account for both secondary and adult students and the full scope of their required services. The bill also introduces a detailed study for technical college capacity funding, examining program eligibility, student and employer demand, funding methodologies, and alternative sources. Furthermore, it refines the process for recommending appropriations by differentiating between academic and technical education funding and mandates that the board consider enrollment funding as part of its budget recommendations. A new section is added to define various levels of instruction and establish an annual process for the Legislature to determine changes in enrollment funding based on enrollment fluctuations and cost-sharing weights specific to institution types, such as research universities, regional universities, community colleges, and technical colleges. The bill also revises performance metrics for higher education institutions, introducing new metrics for the next five-year performance period, including workforce responsiveness and institutional efficiency, and sets specific annual goals for these metrics, with some provisions scheduled for repeal in the coming years.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0216.html