Bill Text: GA SB478 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Georgia Senate Bill 478 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Education; provide authorization to operate by means of accreditation for nonpublic postsecondary institutions; certain requirements

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-05 - Senate Read Second Time [SB478 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB478-Comm_Sub.html

12 LC 28 6209S

The Senate Higher Education Committee offered the following substitute to SB 478:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 20-3-250.8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to applications to operate or conduct postsecondary activities under the "Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990," so as to provide for authorization to operate by means of accreditation for nonpublic postsecondary institutions that meet certain requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 20-3-250.8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to applications to operate or conduct postsecondary activities under the "Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990," is amended by revising subsection (a) as follows:

"(a)(1) Each nonpublic postsecondary educational institution desiring to operate or conduct postsecondary activities in this state shall make application to the commission, upon forms to be provided by the commission. Such application shall be accompanied by a catalog or other written description published, or proposed to be published, by the institution, containing the information specified in subparagraph (a)(1)(D) of Code Section 20-3-250.6, including information required by rules and regulations of the commission. Such application shall also be accompanied by evidence of a surety bond if required by Code Section 20-3-250.10 and subsection (c) of Code Section 20-3-250.27 and shall be accompanied by payment of the fees specified in Code Section 20-3-250.11; provided, however, that when making application to the commission for authorization to operate, those institutions exempt from certain provisions of this part pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-250.3 or subsection (c) of Code Section 20-3-250.3 shall be required to submit only those documents pertaining to provisions of this part from which such institutions are not exempt.

(2)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, a nonpublic postsecondary educational institution that meets the following criteria may apply for an authorization to operate by means of accreditation from the commission:

(i) The institution has operated legally in this state for at least ten consecutive years;

(ii) The institution holds institutional accreditation by an accrediting agency that is recognized by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Department of Education for at least ten consecutive years; and

(iii) The institution has no unresolved complaints or actions against it in the past 12 months.

(B) The commission may not require an institution granted an authorization to operate by means of accreditation to submit information or reports that differ from the information or reports required by its accrediting association; provided, however, that each such institution shall file with the commission an application for renewal which shall be accompanied by payment of the fees specified in Code Section 20-3-250.11 and shall follow all other applicable requirements of this part.

(C) An institution granted an authorization to operate by means of accreditation shall be required to apply for and obtain a regular authorization to operate for any new or existing program which exceeds the level or scope of such institution's accreditation."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.