OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5050 (File 40, as amended by Senate “B”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT STATUTES.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires hospitals that offer any form or manner of trade, industrial, commercial, service, professional, or other occupational instruction for any remuneration, consideration, reward, or promise to obtain an authorization certificate from the higher education commissioner for such instruction. It excludes from this requirement instruction that hospitals provide to their employees, medical staff, and contracted workers. The hospital-based occupational school must pay a $ 200 application fee payable to the General Fund's Private Occupational School Student Protection Account when submitting an initial authorization application.

The bill requires the commissioner to develop a prioritization process for authorizing such schools, based on the size and scope of the instruction they offer. The schools must comply with the bill's requirements according to the commissioner's process, or by 2012, whichever is earlier.

The bill specifies that each hospital-based occupational school's authorization period is three years, regardless of the law requiring annual reauthorization for private occupational schools in their first four years of operation. The schools must pay a $ 200 renewal fee payable to the Student Protection Account. And each school must pay one-half percent of its quarterly net tuition revenue into the Student Protection Account, in accordance with the payment schedule established by law.

The bill also makes various technical changes to the higher education statutes.

*Senate Amendment “B” adds the provisions concerning hospital-based occupational schools.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2008, except for the technical changes provisions, which are effective upon passage.

BACKGROUND

Private Occupational School Student Protection Account

The Student Protection Account is funded by quarterly assessments on private occupational schools' tuition revenues received from Connecticut students and other fees related to the schools' operations. It is used to make tuition refunds to students who are unable to complete a course at a private occupational school because the school becomes insolvent or ceases operating.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Joint Favorable