LANSING – The Senate breathed life back into long-dormant legislation that would allow community colleges to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees in certain programs on Thursday after some discontent at the discharge of HB 4496 from committee.
Community colleges under the bill could offer four-year baccalaureate degrees in cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology and culinary arts. They currently can only offer two-year associate’s degrees.
Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), chair of the Senate Education Committee, won an amendment that struck nursing programs list of 4-year degrees community colleges could offer.
The bill passed 20-17, with a slew of Republicans joining Democrats in opposition to the bill. Senate Minority Floor Leader Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit), Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park), and Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) broke with their party to vote for the bill.
The state’s public universities had resisted the legislation, successfully, contending it had constitutional problems and represented duplication of programming they already offer.
The bill had languished in the Senate Education Committee for 18 months, but was discharged to the floor without warning about 9 p.m.
The House concurred in the Senate changes on a 65-44 vote, sending the bill to Governor Rick Snyder.
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