Bill Text: OR HB3341 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Oregon House Bill 3341 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to authorizing new courses in higher education; and declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-04 - Chapter 288, (2013 Laws): Effective date June 4, 2013. [HB3341 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HB3341-Enrolled.html



     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

                            Enrolled

                         House Bill 3341

Sponsored by Representatives DEMBROW, MCKEOWN, VEGA PEDERSON;
  Senator STEINER HAYWARD

                     CHAPTER ................

                             AN ACT

Relating to authorizing new courses in higher education; amending
  ORS 348.603; repealing ORS 348.611; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

  SECTION 1.  { + ORS 348.611 is repealed. + }
  SECTION 2. ORS 348.603 is amended to read:
  348.603. (1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission
shall:
  (a) Authorize approved schools to offer academic degree
programs;
  (b) Authorize approved degree-granting schools to offer
nondegree programs leading to a certificate or diploma;
  (c) Validate claims of degree possession;
  (d) Terminate substandard or fraudulent degree activities;
  (e) Terminate activities of diploma mills operating in or from
Oregon;
  (f) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section,
terminate the operation in or from Oregon of post-secondary
accrediting bodies that are not recognized by the United States
Department of Education or by the commission; and
  (g) Review proposed new publicly funded post-secondary programs
and locations.
  (2)(a) Following review of a proposed new publicly funded
post-secondary program or location   { - that is not a career
pathways certificate of completion program described in ORS
348.611 - } , the commission shall recommend resolution to the
appropriate governing boards and mediate between the boards to
seek a negotiated resolution if:
  (A) There is a detrimental duplication of programs; or
  (B) The program or location would have a significantly adverse
impact on one or more other segments of education.
  (b) If the boards do not resolve the issue raised under
paragraph (a) of this subsection within 90 days of the date when
the issue was recommended to the boards for mediation, the
commission shall have final authority for approval or disapproval
of the program or location. If the boards do not resolve the
issue, the commission shall approve or disapprove the program or
location within 180 days of the date when the review began.
  (c) If the boards do not resolve the issue, the commission
shall approve the program or location if the commission finds
that the program or location meets an unmet   { - workforce - }
need in the state.

Enrolled House Bill 3341 (HB 3341-B)                       Page 1

  (d) The commission shall establish by rule a fair and neutral
decision-making process in consultation with representatives
designated by the State Board of Education, the State Board of
Higher Education, associations representing Oregon independent
colleges, associations representing Oregon career colleges, and
the governing boards of otherwise unrepresented post-secondary
schools.
  (3) The commission, by rule, may impose a fee on any school or
person requesting information from the commission. The amount of
the fee shall be established to recover designated expenses
incurred by the commission in carrying out the administration of
ORS 348.594 to 348.615. Any fees collected under this subsection
shall be deposited in the Degree Authorization Account
established under ORS 348.601.
  (4) Subsection (1)(f) of this section does not apply to a body
the role of which is to accredit schools that offer only
associate, bachelor's or master's degrees with titles in theology
or religious occupations or, if the schools also offer doctoral
degrees, offer doctoral degrees only in theology or religious
occupations that have been approved by a federally recognized
accrediting organization.
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
                         ----------

Passed by House April 25, 2013

Repassed by House May 23, 2013

    .............................................................
                             Ramona J. Line, Chief Clerk of House

    .............................................................
                                     Tina Kotek, Speaker of House

Passed by Senate May 21, 2013

    .............................................................
                              Peter Courtney, President of Senate

Enrolled House Bill 3341 (HB 3341-B)                       Page 2

Received by Governor:

......M.,............., 2013

Approved:

......M.,............., 2013

    .............................................................
                                         John Kitzhaber, Governor

Filed in Office of Secretary of State:

......M.,............., 2013

    .............................................................
                                   Kate Brown, Secretary of State

Enrolled House Bill 3341 (HB 3341-B)                       Page 3