LCO 5078 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07253-R01-
HB.docx
1 of 3
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7253
January Session, 2019
LCO No. 5078
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT CONCERNING DI STANCE LEARNING PROG RAMS
OPERATED BY INSTITUT IONS OF HIGHER EDUCA TION OUTSIDE OF
THE STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10a-57f of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020): 2
(a) Not later than January 1, 2017, the Office of Higher Education 3
shall enter into a multistate or regional reciprocity agreement for 4
purposes of enabling the state and Connecticut institutions of higher 5
education to participate in a nation-wide state authorization 6
reciprocity agreement (1) establishing uniform standards for distance 7
learning programs across states, and (2) eliminating the need for a state 8
participating in the state authorization reciprocity agreement to assess 9
the quality of a distance learning program offered by an out-of-state 10
institution of higher education through the participating state's 11
authorization, licensing and accreditation process. Notwithstanding 12
the provisions of part III of this chapter and upon the Office of Higher 13
Education entering into the multistate or regional reciprocity 14 Raised Bill No. 7253
LCO 5078 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07253-
R01-HB.docx }
2 of 3
agreement, an out-of-state institution of higher education that 15
participates in the state authorization reciprocity agreement may 16
operate a distance learning program in the state in accordance with the 17
uniform standards. 18
(b) Any Connecticut institution of higher education that seeks to 19
participate in the nation-wide state authorization reciprocity 20
agreement under subsection (a) of this section shall submit an 21
application with the Office of Higher Education on a form prescribed 22
by the office. The office shall approve or reject the institution's 23
application in accordance with the terms of such agreement. 24
Authorization by the office to participate in such agreement shall be 25
valid for a period of one year and may be renewed by the office for 26
additional one-year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of 27
application and renewal fees for all Connecticut institutions of higher 28
education that participate in such agreement. The fee schedule shall be 29
graduated based on the number of full-time equivalent students at 30
each Connecticut institution of higher education. 31
(c) Any out-of-state institution of higher education that does not 32
participate in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity 33
agreement and seeks to operate a distance learning program in the 34
state shall submit an application to the Office of Higher Education on a 35
form prescribed by the office. Each institution shall agree to abide by 36
standards, similar to those in the nation-wide, state authorization 37
reciprocity agreement and established by the office. The office shall 38
approve or reject the institution's application in accordance with the 39
standards established by the office. Authorization by the office to 40
operate a distance learning program in the state shall be valid for a 41
period of one year and may be renewed by the office for additional 42
one-year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of application 43
and renewal fees for all out-of-state institutions of higher education 44
that do not participate in the nation-wide, state authorization 45
reciprocity agreement and are approved by the office. The fee schedule 46
shall be graduated based on the number of full-time equivalent 47 Raised Bill No. 7253
LCO 5078 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07253-
R01-HB.docx }
3 of 3
students enrolled at each out-of-state institution of higher education. 48
[(c)] (d) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed 49
to affect the authority of the Attorney General to enforce the provisions 50
of chapter 735a or Title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 51
Consumer Protection Act, P.L. 111-203, as amended from time to time. 52
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 January 1, 2020 10a-57f
HED Joint Favorable