NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is
intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the
legislature. The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume
responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for
other purposes.
The most recent FIR
version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative
Website. The Adobe PDF version includes
all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be
obtained from the LFC in
SPONSOR: |
Nunez |
DATE TYPED: |
|
HB |
622/aHEC |
||
SHORT TITLE: |
Licensure of NonAccredited Schools |
SB |
|
||||
|
ANALYST: |
L. Baca |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
NFI |
|
|
|
|
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Responses
Received From
Commission
on Higher Education (CHE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of HEC Amendment
The amendment adopted by the House Education
Committee strikes “MAKING AN APPROPRIATION” from the bills title because the
bill carries no appropriation.
Synopsis
of Original Bill
House
Bill 622 amends the Post-Secondary Educational Institution Act, which covers
private proprietary post-secondary institutions. The amended statutory changes include: clarifying definitions in the statute, adding
an exemption for brief courses of instruction, requiring degree- granting
institutions to obtain accreditation from an agency recognized by the US Dept.
of Education, adding proposed wording clarifying the various types of
disciplinary action that may be taken and allowing the Commission on Higher
Education (CHE) to charge an administrative fee based on actual cost of service.
Significant
Issues
This bill clarifies
and simplifies language regarding private post-secondary schools and reliance
on accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting body
for those private schools offering degrees will help assure academic
quality.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
According to the CHE, authorizing the charge of administrative fees will bring fee schedules into line with surrounding states. The CHE provided the table below showing a sample of fees from surrounding states:
|
|
|
|
Change of Location |
$500 |
$150 |
$270 |
Change of Name |
$500 |
$150 |
$150 |
New School Packet |
$20 |
$20 |
$15 |
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The bill’s title contains language “making an
appropriation”, but there is no appropriation in the bill. Consequently, the language should be should
be stricken from the title.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
This bill appears to
strengthen the role of the CHE to establish and monitor guidelines for the licensure
of all private post-secondary institutions operating in
1.
Does the CHE support this bill?
2.
What types of fees are currently charged
by the CHE?
3.
How will the CHE account for the monies
collected for services provided?
LRB/yr/njw