Connecticut Seal

General Assembly

Amendment

 

February Session, 2016

LCO No. 4974

   
 

*SB0002404974SDO*

Offered by:

 

SEN. LOONEY, 11th Dist.

SEN. DUFF, 25th Dist.

SEN. COLEMAN, 2nd Dist.

SEN. DOYLE, 9th Dist.

SEN. SLOSSBERG, 14th Dist.

SEN. GERRATANA, 6th Dist.

SEN. BARTOLOMEO, 13th Dist.

REP. WILLIS, 64th Dist.

SEN. WITKOS, 8th Dist.

REP. BETTS, 78th Dist.

To: Senate Bill No. 24

File No. 13

Cal. No. 64

"AN ACT CONCERNING PROGRAM APPROVAL FOR INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. "

Strike lines 138 to 155, inclusive, and insert the following in lieu thereof:

"(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (j), inclusive, of this section and subject to the authority of the State Board of Education to regulate teacher education programs, new programs of higher learning and program modifications proposed by an independent institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-173, shall not be subject to approval by the Office of Higher Education, until July 1, 2018, provided (1) the institution maintains eligibility to participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (2) the United States Department of Education has not determined that the institution has a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available, and (3) the institution has been located in the state and accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains such accreditation status. All institutions that are exempt from program approval by the Office of Higher Education under this subsection shall annually file with said office not later than July first, annually, (A) a list and brief description of any new programs of higher learning introduced by the institution in the preceding academic year and any existing programs of higher learning discontinued by the institution in the preceding academic year, (B) the institution's current program approval process, and (C) the institution's financial responsibility composite score, as determined by the United States Department of Education, for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016) Not later than December 31, 2017, the Office of Higher Education shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of a state higher education regulatory agency in the protection of student interests and outcomes, including, but not limited to, such agency's role in the implementation of the strategic master plan for higher education developed pursuant to section 10a-11b of the general statutes and of the goals set forth in section 10a-11c of the general statutes. "