Appropriates $46,926,600 to the State Board of Education for Community Colleges for fiscal year 2019; and exempts the appropriation from object and program transfer limitations.

This is the FY 2019 original appropriation bill for Community Colleges. It appropriates $46,926,600 and does not cap the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions. For benefit costs, the bill removes $1,450 per eligible FTP to bring the annual employer contribution for health insurance down to $11,650 by including a two-month employee and employer premium holiday, adds a 6.8% increase for life insurance, and adjusts funding for workers' compensation in amounts that vary by agency. The bill provides funding for a 3% ongoing merit-based salary increase for permanent employees, to be distributed at the discretion of the agency head or institution president. Nondiscretionary adjustments include an increase of $795,300. The bill funds five line items, which provide: $307,700 from the General Fund ($91,700 ongoing, $216,000 onetime) for the computer science program at North Idaho College; $1,111,100 ongoing from the General Fund for administrative costs at the College of Eastern Idaho; $3,902,700 ongoing from the General Fund to expand instruction capabilities at the College of Eastern Idaho; $200,000 from the Community College Fund to expand administration at the College of Eastern Idaho; and $385,000 onetime from the General Fund to North Idaho College and the College of Southern Idaho as a benefit cost offset. DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and