Now.

Today marks day 53 of the 60 day lawmaking session.

Also today, state lawmakers acknowledged there had been serious conversations about the closure of Kentucky State University.

That's the state's only publicly funded historically black college and university, or HBCU.

It's been in existence since 1886.

KSU has been mired in persistent financial missteps and debts in recent years.

But some lawmakers have expressed confidence and the current administration, with Kofi Apo as president of K state since 2023 and turning the institution around.

Today, the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee advanced legislation aimed at strengthening KSU.

Among the provisions in Senate Bill 185, KSU would transition toward a poly technical model, meaning it will focus on degree programs related to applied sciences.

State Senator Kristen McDaniel, who was chair of the Senate Budget Committee, outlined other aspects of the bill.

Kentucky State will transition to add a polytechnic mission and become a polytechnic university over the next five years.

As doctor, Thompson has alluded to, there will still be liberal arts offerings on campus as well as online.

Relative to that.

Exigency is declared and any, employment provisions are suspended.

Employment status will be determined by the president.

The minimum GPA for admission will be raised to a 2.5 with an 18 on the Act.

No student with over $1,000 in debt shall be enrolled beyond 30 days of the date the amount is due.

All fraternities and sororities must reapply for their charters.

Any person owing Kentucky State money shall have a tax return intercepted by the Department of Revenue.

And we're directing the Department of Revenue to work with the federal government to do the same for those out of state who owe Kentucky state money.

Any liberal arts degrees will largely be moved to an expanded online offering.

With the exception of education, only polytechnic and Stem and education degrees are in person.

The president will have the sole discretion as to the re admittance of students.

Funding will be held constant at the base.

There will be no cuts made in the biennium to the budget of Kentucky State University.

CFP CPE will continue to provide oversight of university operations with monthly reporting to CP e from Kentucky State and then quarterly to the General Assembly.

All financial transactions are transferred to the EMR system.

Any person, person, corporation, or officer currently engaged in a P3 with Kentucky State University will no longer be eligible to transact business with the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions.

There is an asset preservation request currently being reviewed of up to $50 million.

They will receive $2 million for expanded online offerings, although that is not part of this bill, it will be part of a future appropriations bill.

I should add reviewing the $3 million request for polytechnic transition also not as part of this bill, but as part of a separate will be $50 million in year two for the Health Sciences Building pending participation in MRA and a clean financial review.

Senate Minority Leader Democrat Gerald Nil of Louisville, said there were several changes he'd like to see in the bill, but he did vote for it in committee, calling this moment a huge opportunity.

Senate Bill 185 advanced out of the committee, and it now awaits action by the full Senate for further consideration.