Iowa-2017-HF561-Introduced
House File 561 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 94)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the registration of postsecondary schools by
2 the college student aid commission and student eligibility
3 for state student financial aid programs.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 1 Section 1. Section 261B.3, subsection 4, Code 2017, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 4. If a school fails to meet any of the registration
1 4 criteria, or if the commission believes that false, misleading,
1 5 or incomplete information has been submitted in connection with
1 6 an application for registration, or if the school has engaged
1 7 in conduct prohibited under section 261B.13, the commission
1 8 may deny, suspend, or revoke registration and the school shall
1 9 not operate in Iowa or otherwise offer its programs to Iowa
1 10 residents. The commission shall conduct a hearing on the
1 11 denial if a hearing is requested by a school. Upon a finding
1 12 after the hearing that the school fails to meet any of the
1 13 registration criteria, or that information contained in the
1 14 registration application is false, misleading, or incomplete,
1 15 the commission shall deny registration. The commission shall
1 16 make the final decision on each registration. However, the
1 17 decision of the commission is subject to judicial review in
1 18 accordance with section 17A.19.
1 19 Sec. 2. Section 261B.3A, subsection 3, Code 2017, is amended
1 20 to read as follows:
1 21 3. The commission may grant a provisional registration to
1 22 a school that is not accredited by an agency or organization
1 23 that is recognized by the United States department of
1 24 education or its successor agency while the school is seeking
1 25 authority to provide programs under that accreditation at
1 26 a location in this state. The commission shall determine
1 27 the duration of the provisional registration, not to exceed
1 28 two years. During the provisional registration period, the
1 29 school shall, at six=month intervals, submit to the commission
1 30 documentation of its progress toward achieving accreditation
1 31 receiving authorization. The commission may renew the school's
1 32 provisional registration at its discretion if the documentation
1 33 submitted indicates that the school is making progress toward
1 34 accreditation authorization.
1 35 Sec. 3. Section 261B.6, Code 2017, is amended to read as
2 1 follows:
2 2 261B.6 List of schools.
2 3 The commission shall maintain a list of registered schools
2 4 and the list and the information submitted under sections
2 5 261B.3 and 261B.4 this chapter are public records under chapter
2 6 22.
2 7 Sec. 4. Section 261B.9, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2017,
2 8 is amended to read as follows:
2 9 Prior to the commencement of a course of instruction and
2 10 prior to the receipt of a tuition charge or fee for a course
2 11 of instruction, a school shall provide written disclosure
2 12 to students of the following information accompanied by a
2 13 statement that the information is being provided in compliance
2 14 with this section:
2 15 Sec. 5. Section 261B.11A, Code 2017, is amended to read as
2 16 follows:
2 17 261B.11A Ineligibility for state student aid programs.
2 18 1. Students attending schools required to register under
2 19 this chapter are ineligible for state student financial aid
2 20 programs established under chapter 261. This subsection does
2 21 not apply to students attending a for=profit accredited private
2 22 institution as defined in section 261.25, subsection 2.
2 23 2. A school required to register under this chapter that
2 24 is prohibited from offering state aid or advertising shall not
2 25 advertise that state aid is or may be available to students
2 26 attending the school.
2 27 EXPLANATION
2 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
2 29 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
2 30 This bill relates both to a requirement that certain
2 31 postsecondary schools register with and be approved by the
2 32 college student aid commission, and to student eligibility for
2 33 state student financial aid programs.
2 34 Code chapter 261B requires certain postsecondary schools
2 35 to register with the commission in order to operate in
3 1 Iowa or otherwise offer its programs to Iowa residents.
3 2 Currently, the commission may deny registration and the
3 3 authorization to operate in Iowa to a school that fails to
3 4 meet registration criteria or provides false, misleading, or
3 5 incomplete information in connection with its application
3 6 for registration. The bill authorizes the commission to
3 7 also deny, suspend, or revoke a school's registration if
3 8 the school engaged in conduct prohibited under Code section
3 9 261B.13. Currently, Code section 261B.13 prohibits a
3 10 postsecondary school from operating in this state if the
3 11 school does not qualify for an exemption and is not accredited
3 12 by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. department
3 13 of education. Code section 261B.13 also prohibits a school
3 14 that is registered or otherwise authorized to operate in this
3 15 state from entering into an agreement to conduct a course of
3 16 instruction, confer a degree, or conduct any other aspect of
3 17 its operation with another school that is in violation of the
3 18 Code section.
3 19 The bill authorizes the commission to grant provisional
3 20 registration for not more than two years to a school if the
3 21 school is accredited elsewhere and is seeking the authorization
3 22 of the accrediting agency or organization to provide programs
3 23 in Iowa under that accreditation.
3 24 Under the bill, lists and information submitted under the
3 25 Code chapter are public records. The bill strikes a provision
3 26 requiring approved schools to include on written disclosures
3 27 provided to students, prior to the commencement of classes and
3 28 receipt of tuition or fees, a statement that the information
3 29 disclosed is provided in compliance with Code section 261B.9.
3 30 A Code provision making students who are attending schools
3 31 that are required to register with the commission ineligible
3 32 for state student financial aid programs is, under the bill,
3 33 inapplicable to students attending a for=profit accredited
3 34 private institution, as defined for purposes of the Iowa
3 35 tuition grant.
4 1 Currently, a school required to register with the commission
4 2 is prohibited from offering state aid or advertising that state
4 3 aid is or may be available to students attending the school.
4 4 The bill provides that a school which is required to register
4 5 with the commission and is prohibited from offering state aid
4 6 shall not advertise that state aid is or may be available to
4 7 students attending the school.
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