The Kansas House on Monday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would set up a panel to coordinate technical schools and advise the Kansas Board of Regents on funding of technical schools.

The measure, House Bill 2556, also would require several technical schools to merge or affiliate with a community college or become an accredited technical college with an independent governing board.

Those include the Northeast Kansas, Kansas City Area, Kaw Area, Salina Area and Southwest Kansas technical schools.

The measure has been pushed by business leaders and educators who say more uniformity is needed in the governance and funding structures of the 35 Kansas institutions that offer vocational and technical courses, to better match the schools’ offerings with the economy.

The House is expected to give final approval today, and then the bill goes to the Senate for consideration.