§ 74-32,434 — Performance-based incentive payments for certain postsecondary educational institutions; eligibility; amount of payment

(a) (1) Any eligible postsecondary educational institution may certify to the board of regents:
(A) The number of individuals who received a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential from such institution while enrolled in an eligible career technical education program;
(B) the number of individuals who received a career technical education credential from such institution; and
(C) the number of individuals who were enrolled in an eligible career technical education program at such institution and who are pursuing a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential.
(2) Certifications submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be submitted in such form and manner as prescribed by the board of regents and shall include such other information as required by the board of regents.
(b) Each fiscal year, upon receipt of a certification submitted under subsection (a), the board of regents shall authorize payment to such eligible postsecondary educational institution from the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund. The amount of any such payment shall be calculated based on the following:
(1) For each individual who has received a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential, $500;
(2) for each individual who has received a career technical education credential, $1,000; and
(3) for each individual enrolled in an eligible career technical education program who is pursuing a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential, $170.
(c) That portion of any payment from the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund that is made based on subsection (b)(2) shall be expended for scholarships for individuals enrolled in an eligible career technical education program and operating costs of eligible career technical education programs. Each eligible postsecondary educational institution shall prepare and submit a report to the board of regents that includes the number of individuals who received scholarships, the aggregate amount of moneys expended for such scholarships and the number of those individuals who received a scholarship that also received a career technical education credential.
(d) (1) Of that portion of any payment from the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund that is made based on subsection (b)(3), an amount equal to $150 for each individual shall be expended by the eligible postsecondary educational institution for the general educational development (GED) test.
(2) If any individual enrolled in an eligible career technical education program for which an eligible postsecondary educational institution has received a payment under this section fails to take the general educational development (GED) test, then such institution shall notify the board of regents in writing that no such test was administered to the individual. For each such notification received, the board of regents shall deduct an amount equal to $150 from such institution's subsequent incentive payment.
(e) All payments authorized by the board of regents pursuant to this section shall be subject to the limits of appropriations made for such purposes. If there are insufficient appropriations for the board of regents to authorize payments in accordance with the amounts set forth in subsection (b), the board of regents shall prorate such amounts in accordance with appropriations made therefor.
(f) There is hereby created the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund. Expenditures from the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund shall be for the sole purpose of paying payments to eligible postsecondary educational institutions as authorized by the board of regents. All expenditures from the postsecondary education performance-based incentives fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the president of the board of regents or the president's designee.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) "Board of regents" means the state board of regents provided for in the constitution of this state and established by K.S.A. 74-3202a, and amendments thereto.
(2) "Career technical education credential" means any industry-recognized technical certification or credential, other than a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential, or any technical certification or credential authorized by a state agency.
(3) "Eligible career technical education program" means a program operated by one or more eligible postsecondary educational institutions that is identified by the board of regents as a program that allows an enrollee to obtain a general educational development (GED) or high school equivalency (HSE) credential while pursuing a career technical education credential.
(4) "Eligible postsecondary educational institution" means any community college, technical college or the institute of technology at Washburn university.
(5) "State agency" means any state office, department, board, commission, institution, bureau or any other state authority.

Legislative History

L. 2014, ch. 93, § 63; L. 2016, ch. 74, § 3; L. 2023, ch. 95, § 5; July 1.