HARRISBURG - The financial crisis that's been facing the state's 14 community colleges for the last two years is getting some attention in Harrisburg.

State Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, introduced legislation Tuesday in Harrisburg that supports community colleges.

The legislation expands the role of community colleges in various workforce development programs and establishes a Capital Projects Fund.

The first measure of his legislation increases the state's full-time equivalent reimbursement to community colleges from $1,500 to $1,680. Total cost for this phase of the legislation is $29 million.

Butler County Community College has approximately 4,000 credit students. The boost in reimbursement could mean an extra $720,000 for BC3 based on its current enrollment.

The second measure would create the Community College Capital Projects Fund, which will help schools build facilities and obtain high-tech equipment to help educate and train students.

Veon said it is estimated the state's community colleges need nearly $500 million in capital projects to stay ahead of the technology curve and provide the kind of education needed for Pennsylvania's work force to be competitive with other states.

"This fund, similar to the successful county college fund in New Jersey, would provide the base to begin meeting the cost of these vital projects," Veon said in a news release.

"Creating a debt service of about $15 million per year will give us about $200 million available immediately to help fund projects, and as those projects are completed, those dollars would be rolled over into the fund."

Colleges are reimbursed for capital projects once they are approved by the state Department of Education, but some projects have been put on hold because colleges must fund them up front. Veon's legislation would help provide the money needed until reimbursement comes through.

Veon also plans to introduce legislation that would examine the role of community colleges in workforce training and retraining as part of a bigger review of how the state coordinates and implements workforce development, retraining and job development.

BC3 President Cynthia Azari was in Harrisburg for the announcement.

"We certainly support Representative Veon's efforts to help provide adequate funding for community colleges," Azari said. "And we appreciate his taking the lead as an advocate for accessibility and affordability for community college students."

BC3 had funding shortfalls of $400,000 in 2004 and has had to postpone several maintenance projects so it could meet its financial obligations. It also has had to impose tuition increases for the past two years.

Veon's legislation is the first of several possible solutions being introduced for the financial crisis Pennsylvania's community colleges have been facing. He plans to introduce his legislation this week.

Veon's legislation is designed to complement the community colleges in their training of the state's workforce.

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges supports Veon's legislation.

Diane Bosak, the commission's executive director, said during Tuesday's press conference that the crisis being felt by all community colleges continues to intensify but that Veon's legislation is a step toward alleviating that crisis.

"Representative Veon and his colleagues are to be commended for stepping up in support of Pennsylvania's community colleges," Bosak said. "Without these types of initiatives, community colleges may cease to be affordable and accessible."

During the next 10 years, it is estimated that 83 percent of the jobs in the 30 fastest-growing occupations will require some kind of secondary education, for which community colleges will be able to provide, Bosak said.

For more information on the crisis, visit www.pacommunitycolleges.org or call 717-232-7584.