A bill to consolidate the Ardmore Higher Education Center into Southeastern Oklahoma State University passed out of the Senate Education Committee Monday morning on a vote of 9-6, but not without debate about the continued effort to make the program part of that university.

SB 1444, by Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, would make the Ardmore facility a branch campus of SEOSU. It would give Murray State College exclusive authority to offer lower-division courses at the SEOSU-Ardmore. The bill calls for a five-year plan for the transition, which would be required to be completed by Sept. 1, 2017.

Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed similar legislation last year.

“While I support providing access to quality higher education throughout this state, this bill does not adequately identify the funding source for its objectives,” Fallin said in her veto message. “I cannot sign this bill, especially in this economic climate, without a clearly defined approach to the long-term funding issues. More study and planning is necessary with all parties involved to ensure its future success.”

At the time, backers said the idea was to administer the new campus through local and private contributions.

Fallin, however, said it was doubtful a new branch campus could be sustained without state financial support. With no cost estimates and the state then struggling with a $500 million shortfall, the governor said. “I do not believe it would be appropriate to proceed.”

As introduced, last session’s bill would have merely changed the name of the Ardmore center. It morphed into a full-fledged branch campus as it moved through the process.

Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, said he would not pursue passage of his SB 1444 without Fallin onboard.

Simpson said that his bill provides for a more flexible transition timeframe than last year’s bill. HB 1227 called for finalizing the transition by September of 2014.

Neither measure calls for creating an entirely new campus and both stress that no new appropriated dollars would be used for the change, Simpson said. He referred to a fiscal impact statement estimating no immediate effect on state funds due to the proposed consolidation. He added that funding for the Ardmore center would be transferred to SEOSU.

Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, raised several questions, as she did during the ongoing debate over last year’s proposal.

“What has changed since you authored this bill last year?” she asked.

Simpson said he has met with the governor’s staff and had another meeting scheduled for later Monday morning “to clear up misunderstandings.”

He told Paddack that he chose not to try to override Fallin’s veto last session because that would have been a confrontational process.

Simpson also said the new bill calls for protecting the interests of East Central University, officials from which raised concerns about last year’s effort. He said there is no reason East Central could not continue to have a presence in Ardmore.

Paddack also questioned how SEOSU could handle a new branch campus financially.

Simpson replied that consolidation of services and elimination of duplications would save some money.

He acknowledged that additional funding might be needed if the new campus were to experience increased enrollment, but said there is no request for money to build new facilities.

“We don’t want a resident campus,” he said.

Paddack said she has heard a rumor about a potential bond issue for the branch campus, but Simpson said that is not part of the proposal. However, he said 82 percent of respondents to one survey voiced support for a bond issue to fund a four-year school in the area.

Simpson told Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, that having a branch campus in Ardmore would help students who do not have the ability to drive all the way to SEOSU or ECU.

The author said the new proposal would also help Fallin’s effort to increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.

During debate, Paddack questioned whether ECU had actually been allowed a seat at the table when the possibility of a new SEOSU campus was floated last year.

“That has not taken place,” she said.

Paddack also said branch campuses have higher costs and requirements than higher education centers, saying that the state spends about $11 million on branch campuses currently.

“The governor has not said she will support this,” Paddack said.

Simpson said the Ardmore program is the last higher education center left in the state and is outgrowing its current facility.

Monday afternoon, Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz verified that the governor met with Simpson; Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate; Rep. Tommy Hardin, R-Madill, and Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, to discuss the bill.

“The meeting was to address questions the governor raised last year about the proposal,” Weintz said in a statement. “The lawmakers presented their plan and information to the governor. The governor hasn’t made a commitment moving forward, but appreciates the lawmakers taking time to meet with her about this issue.”