Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06445 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
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2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 10
	3	+	LCO No. 3566 1 of 11
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 6445
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6445
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 3566
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
	11	+	EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(HED)
8	16
9	17
10	18
11	19
12	20		AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE
13	21		OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
14	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	23		Assembly convened:
16	24
17	25		Section 1. Section 10a-57f of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
18	26		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
19	27		(a) As used in this section: 3
20	28		(1) "Connecticut institution of higher education" means an institution 4
21	29		of higher education that (A) conducts instructional activities at a 5
22	30		physical location in the state, or (B) maintains an administrative office 6
23	31		in the state; and 7
24	32		(2) "Out-of-state institution of higher education" means an institution 8
25	33		of higher education that (A) is not a Connecticut institution of higher 9
26	34		education, and (B) is authorized, licensed or accredited by another state. 10
27	35		[(a) Not later than January 1, 2017, the] (b) The Office of Higher 11
28	36		Education shall enter into a multistate or regional reciprocity agreement 12
	37	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	38	+
	39	+
	40	+
	41	+	LCO No. 3566 2 of 11
	42	+
29	43		for purposes of enabling the state and Connecticut institutions of higher 13
30	44		education to participate in a nation-wide state authorization reciprocity 14
31	45		agreement (1) establishing uniform standards for distance learning 15
32	46		programs across states, and (2) eliminating the need for a state 16
33		-	participating in the state authorization reciprocity agreement to assess 17 Substitute Bill No. 6445
34		-
35		-
36		-	LCO 2 of 10
37		-
	47	+	participating in the state authorization reciprocity agreement to assess 17
38	48		the quality of a distance learning program offered by an out-of-state 18
39	49		institution of higher education through the participating state's 19
40	50		authorization, licensing and accreditation process. Notwithstanding the 20
41	51		provisions of part III of this chapter and upon the Office of Higher 21
42	52		Education entering into the multistate or regional reciprocity 22
43	53		agreement, an out-of-state institution of higher education that 23
44	54		participates in the state authorization reciprocity agreement may 24
45	55		operate a distance learning program in the state in accordance with the 25
46	56		uniform standards. 26
47	57		[(b)] (c) Any Connecticut institution of higher education that seeks to 27
48	58		participate in the nation-wide state authorization reciprocity agreement 28
49	59		under subsection [(a)] (b) of this section shall submit an application with 29
50	60		the Office of Higher Education on a form prescribed by the office. The 30
51	61		office shall approve or reject the institution's application in accordance 31
52	62		with the terms of such agreement. Authorization by the office to 32
53	63		participate in such agreement shall be valid for a period of one year and 33
54	64		may be renewed by the office for additional one-year periods. The office 34
55	65		shall establish a schedule of application and renewal fees for all 35
56	66		Connecticut institutions of higher education that participate in such 36
57	67		agreement. The fee schedule shall be graduated based on the number of 37
58	68		full-time equivalent students at each Connecticut institution of higher 38
59	69		education. 39
60	70		[(c)] (d) Any out-of-state institution of higher education that does not 40
61	71		participate in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity agreement 41
62	72		and seeks to operate a distance learning program in the state shall 42
63	73		submit an application to the Office of Higher Education on a form 43
64	74		prescribed by the office. Each institution shall agree to abide by 44
65	75		standards, similar to those in the nation-wide, state authorization 45
	76	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	77	+
	78	+
	79	+
	80	+	LCO No. 3566 3 of 11
	81	+
66	82		reciprocity agreement and established by the office. The office shall 46
67	83		approve or reject the institution's application in accordance with the 47
68	84		standards established by the office. Authorization by the office to 48
69	85		operate a distance learning program in the state shall be valid for a 49
70	86		period of one year and may be renewed by the office for additional one-50
71		-	year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of application and 51 Substitute Bill No. 6445
72		-
73		-
74		-	LCO 3 of 10
75		-
	87	+	year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of application and 51
76	88		renewal fees for all out-of-state institutions of higher education that do 52
77	89		not participate in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity 53
78	90		agreement and are approved by the office. The fee schedule shall be 54
79	91		graduated based on the number of full-time equivalent students 55
80	92		enrolled at each out-of-state institution of higher education. 56
81	93		[(d)] (e) Nothing in subsection [(a)] (b) of this section shall be 57
82	94		construed to affect the authority of the Attorney General to enforce the 58
83	95		provisions of chapter 735a or Title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 59
84	96		Reform and Consumer Protection Act, P.L. 111-203, as amended from 60
85	97		time to time. 61
86	98		Sec. 2. Section 10a-22c of the general statutes is repealed and the 62
87	99		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 63
88	100		(a) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be authorized 64
89	101		by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, if (1) any 65
90	102		principal, officer, member or director of the applicant school has acted 66
91	103		in a similar capacity for a private career school which has had its 67
92	104		authorization revoked pursuant to section 10a-22f; (2) the applicant 68
93	105		school does not have a net worth consisting of sufficient liquid assets or 69
94	106		other evidence of fiscal soundness to operate for the period of time for 70
95	107		which authorization is sought; (3) the applicant school or any of its 71
96	108		agents engages in advertising, sales, collection, credit or other practices 72
97	109		which are false, deceptive, misleading or unfair; (4) the applicant school 73
98	110		has any policy which discourages or prohibits the filing of inquiries or 74
99	111		complaints regarding the school's operation with the commissioner; (5) 75
100	112		the applicant school fails to satisfactorily meet the criteria set forth in 76
101	113		subsection (g) of section 10a-22b, or, on and after the effective date of 77
	114	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	115	+
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+	LCO No. 3566 4 of 11
	119	+
102	120		regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, the criteria set forth in 78
103	121		such regulations; (6) a private career school that has previously closed 79
104	122		fails to follow the procedures for school closure under section 10a-22m; 80
105	123		or (7) the applicant school does not have a director located at the school 81
106	124		and at each of its branches in this state. 82
107		-	(b) The commissioner may deny a certificate of authorization if the 83 Substitute Bill No. 6445
108		-
109		-
110		-	LCO 4 of 10
111		-
	125	+	(b) The commissioner may deny a certificate of authorization if the 83
112	126		person who owns or intends to operate a private career school has been 84
113	127		convicted in this state, or any other state, of larceny in violation of 85
114	128		section 53a-122 or 53a-123; identity theft in violation of section 53a-129b 86
115	129		or 53a-129c; forgery in violation of section 53a-138 or 53a-139; or has a 87
116	130		criminal record in this state, or any other state, that the commissioner 88
117	131		reasonably believes renders the person unsuitable to own and operate a 89
118	132		private career school. A refusal of a certificate of authorization under 90
119	133		this subsection shall be made in accordance with the provisions of 91
120	134		sections 46a-79 to 46a-81, inclusive. 92
121	135		(c) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be issued by 93
122	136		the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d, as amended by this act, 94
123	137		until such private career school seeking authorization files with the 95
124	138		commissioner certificates indicating that the buildings and premises for 96
125	139		such school meet all applicable state and local fire and zoning 97
126	140		requirements. Such certificates shall be attested to by the fire marshal 98
127	141		and zoning enforcement officer within the municipality in which such 99
128	142		school is located. 100
129	143		(d) No certificate to operate a new private career school shall be 101
130	144		issued by the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d, as amended by 102
131	145		this act, until such private career school seeking authorization files with 103
132	146		the commissioner an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank with 104
133	147		its main office or branch located within this state in the penal amount of 105
134	148		forty thousand dollars guaranteeing the payments required of the 106
135	149		school to the private career school student protection account in 107
136	150		accordance with the provisions of section 10a-22u, except that, any letter 108
137	151		of credit issued on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted 109
	152	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	153	+
	154	+
	155	+
	156	+	LCO No. 3566 5 of 11
	157	+
138	158		pursuant to section 10a-22k, shall be in a penal amount specified in such 110
139	159		regulations. The letter of credit shall be payable to the private career 111
140	160		school student protection account in the event that such school fails to 112
141	161		make payments to the account as provided in subsection (a) of section 113
142	162		10a-22u or in the event the state takes action to reimburse the account 114
143	163		for a tuition refund paid to a student pursuant to the provisions of 115
144	164		section 10a-22v, provided the amount of the letter of credit to be paid 116
145		-	into the private career school student protection account shall not 117 Substitute Bill No. 6445
146		-
147		-
148		-	LCO 5 of 10
149		-
	165	+	into the private career school student protection account shall not 117
150	166		exceed the amounts owed to the account. In the event a private career 118
151	167		school fails to close in accordance with the provisions of section 10a-119
152	168		22m, the commissioner may seize the letter of credit, which shall be 120
153	169		made payable to the private career school protection account. 121
154	170		(e) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be renewed 122
155	171		by the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d, as amended by this 123
156	172		act, if such private career school seeking authorization has not enrolled 124
157		-	any students continually during the previous two calendar years. ~~Upon~~ 125
158		-	the expiration of such private career school's ~~authorization, such private~~ 126
159		-	career school shall follow the procedures for ~~school closure set forth in~~ 127
160		-	section 10a-22m. 128
	173	+	any students continually during the previous two calendar years. On or 125
	174	+	before sixty days prior to the expiration of such private career school's 126
	175	+	authorization, such private career school shall follow the procedures for 127
	176	+	school closure set forth in section 10a-22m. 128
161	177		[(e)] (f) The commissioner shall notify the applicant private career 129
162	178		school, by certified mail, return receipt requested of the decision to grant 130
163	179		or deny a certificate of authorization not later than sixty days after 131
164	180		receiving the written report of the evaluation team appointed pursuant 132
165	181		to subsection (e) of section 10a-22b. 133
166	182		Sec. 3. Subsection (e) of section 10a-22d of the general statutes is 134
167	183		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 135
168	184		2025): 136
169	185		(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, 137
170	186		inclusive, the commissioner may authorize the extension of the most 138
171	187		recent certificate of authorization for a period not to exceed [sixty] 139
172	188		ninety days for good cause shown, provided such extension shall not 140
	189	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	190	+
	191	+
	192	+
	193	+	LCO No. 3566 6 of 11
	194	+
173	195		change the date of the original certificate's issuance or the date for each 141
174	196		renewal. 142
175	197		Sec. 4. Section 10a-34 of the general statutes is repealed and the 143
176	198		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 144
177	199		(a) For the purposes of this section, (1) "program of higher learning" 145
178	200		means any course of instruction for which it is stated or implied that 146
179	201		college or university-level credit may be given or may be received by 147
180		-	transfer, including any course offered by dual enrollment; (2) "degree" 148 Substitute Bill No. 6445
181		-
182		-
183		-	LCO 6 of 10
184		-
	202	+	transfer, including any course offered by dual enrollment; (2) "degree" 148
185	203		means any letters or words, diploma, certificate or other symbol or 149
186	204		document which signifies satisfactory completion of the requirements 150
187	205		of a program of higher learning; (3) "institution of higher education" 151
188	206		means any person, school, board, association, limited liability company 152
189	207		or corporation which is authorized to offer one or more programs of 153
190	208		higher learning leading to one or more degrees; (4) "authorization" 154
191	209		means the approval by the Office of Higher Education to operate or 155
192	210		continue operating a program of higher learning or institution of higher 156
193	211		education for subsequent periods, and in such periods to confer 157
194	212		specified degrees; (5) "program modification" means (A) a change in a 158
195	213		program of higher learning that does not clearly qualify as a new 159
196	214		program of higher learning or a nonsubstantive change, including, but 160
197	215		not limited to, a new program of higher learning consisting primarily of 161
198	216		course work for a previously approved program of higher learning, (B) 162
199	217		an approved program of higher learning to be offered at an off-campus 163
200	218		location, (C) a change in the title of a degree, or (D) a change in the title 164
201	219		of a program of higher learning; [and] (6) "nonsubstantive change" 165
202	220		means (A) a new undergraduate certificate program, within an existing 166
203	221		program of higher learning, of not more than thirty semester credit 167
204	222		hours that falls under an approved program of higher learning, (B) a 168
205	223		new baccalaureate minor of not more than eighteen semester credit 169
206	224		hours, (C) a new undergraduate option or certificate program of not 170
207	225		more than fifteen semester credit hours, or (D) a new graduate option 171
208	226		or certificate program of not more than twelve semester credit hours; 172
209	227		and (7) "change of ownership" means a transaction involving an 173
	228	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
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	230	+
	231	+
	232	+	LCO No. 3566 7 of 11
	233	+
210	234		institution of higher education that results in a change of control of such 174
211	235		institution, including, but not limited to, a (A) sale of such institution, 175
212	236		(B) transfer of the controlling interest of stock of such institution or a 176
213		-	parent corporation of such institution, (C) merger of two or more 177
214		-	institutions of higher education, (D) division of such institution into two 178
215		-	or more institutions of higher education, (E) transfer of liabilities of such 179
216		-	institution to a parent corporation of such institution, (F) transfer of 180
217		-	assets that comprise a substantial portion of the educational assets of 181
218		-	such institution, unless the transfer consists exclusively of granting a 182
219		-	security interest in such assets, or (G) change in the status of such 183 Substitute Bill No. 6445
	237	+	parent corporation, (C) merger of two or more institutions of higher 177
	238	+	education, (D) division of such institution into two or more institutions 178
	239	+	of higher education, (E) transfer of liabilities of such institution to a 179
	240	+	parent corporation, (F) transfer of assets that comprise a substantial 180
	241	+	portion of the educational assets of such institution, unless the transfer 181
	242	+	consists exclusively of granting a security interest in such assets, or (G) 182
	243	+	change in the status of such institution as a public, nonprofit or for-profit 183
	244	+	institution of higher education. 184
	245	+	(b) The Office of Higher Education shall establish regulations, in 185
	246	+	accordance with chapter 54, concerning the requirements for 186
	247	+	authorization, administration, finance, faculty, curricula, library, 187
	248	+	student admission and graduation, plant and equipment, records, 188
	249	+	catalogs, program announcements and any other criteria pertinent 189
	250	+	thereto, as well as the periods for which authorization may be granted, 190
	251	+	and the costs and procedures of evaluations as provided in subsections 191
	252	+	(c), (d) and (i) of this section. 192
	253	+	(c) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall confer 193
	254	+	any degree unless authorized by act of the General Assembly. No 194
	255	+	application for authority to confer any such degree shall be approved 195
	256	+	by the General Assembly or any committee thereof, nor shall any such 196
	257	+	authority be included in any charter of incorporation until such 197
	258	+	application has been evaluated and approved by the Office of Higher 198
	259	+	Education in accordance with regulations established by the Office of 199
	260	+	Higher Education. 200
	261	+	(d) The Office of Higher Education shall review all requests and 201
	262	+	applications for program modifications, nonsubstantive changes, [and] 202
	263	+	authorizations and change of ownership. The office shall review each 203
	264	+	application in consideration of the academic standards set forth in the 204
	265	+	regulations for authorization adopted by said office in accordance with 205
	266	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
220	267
221	268
222		-	LCO 7 of 10
223	269
224		-	institution as a public, nonprofit or for-profit institution of higher 184
225		-	education. 185
226		-	(b) The Office of Higher Education shall establish regulations, in 186
227		-	accordance with chapter 54, concerning the requirements for 187
228		-	authorization, administration, finance, faculty, curricula, library, 188
229		-	student admission and graduation, plant and equipment, records, 189
230		-	catalogs, program announcements and any other criteria pertinent 190
231		-	thereto, as well as the periods for which authorization may be granted, 191
232		-	and the costs and procedures of evaluations as provided in subsections 192
233		-	(c), (d) and (i) of this section. 193
234		-	(c) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall confer 194
235		-	any degree unless authorized by act of the General Assembly. No 195
236		-	application for authority to confer any such degree shall be approved 196
237		-	by the General Assembly or any committee thereof, nor shall any such 197
238		-	authority be included in any charter of incorporation until such 198
239		-	application has been evaluated and approved by the Office of Higher 199
240		-	Education in accordance with regulations established by the Office of 200
241		-	Higher Education. 201
242		-	(d) The Office of Higher Education shall review all requests and 202
243		-	applications for program modifications, nonsubstantive changes, [and] 203
244		-	authorizations and change of ownership. The office shall review each 204
245		-	application in consideration of the academic standards set forth in the 205
246		-	regulations for authorization adopted by said office in accordance with 206
247		-	the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Notwithstanding the 207
248		-	provisions of section 10a-34e, any application that is determined by the 208
249		-	office to be for (1) a program modification that meets all such academic 209
250		-	standards, (2) a nonsubstantive change, or (3) authorization shall be 210
251		-	deemed approved, and the office shall notify the institution of such 211
252		-	approval, not later than forty-five days from the date the office receives 212
253		-	such application without requiring any further action from the 213
254		-	applicant. 214
255		-	(e) If the Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's 215 Substitute Bill No. 6445
	270	+	LCO No. 3566 8 of 11
	271	+
	272	+	the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Notwithstanding the 206
	273	+	provisions of section 10a-34e, any application that is determined by the 207
	274	+	office to be for (1) a program modification that meets all such academic 208
	275	+	standards, (2) a nonsubstantive change, or (3) authorization shall be 209
	276	+	deemed approved, and the office shall notify the institution of such 210
	277	+	approval, not later than forty-five days from the date the office receives 211
	278	+	such application without requiring any further action from the 212
	279	+	applicant. 213
	280	+	(e) If the Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's 214
	281	+	designee, determines that further review of an application is needed due 215
	282	+	at least in part to the applicant offering instruction in a new program of 216
	283	+	higher learning or new degree level or the financial condition of the 217
	284	+	institution of higher education is determined to be at risk of imminent 218
	285	+	closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the 219
	286	+	provisions of section 10a-34h, then the commissioner or the 220
	287	+	commissioner's designee shall conduct a focused or on-site review. Such 221
	288	+	applicant shall have an opportunity to state any objection regarding any 222
	289	+	individual selected to review an application on behalf of the 223
	290	+	commissioner. For purposes of this subsection and subsection (f) of this 224
	291	+	section, "focused review" means a review by an out-of-state curriculum 225
	292	+	expert; and "on-site review" means a full team evaluation by the office 226
	293	+	at the institution of higher education. 227
	294	+	(f) The Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's 228
	295	+	designee, may require (1) a focused or on-site review of any program 229
	296	+	application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut, and 230
	297	+	(2) evidence that a program application in a field requiring a license to 231
	298	+	practice in Connecticut meets the state or federal licensing requirements 232
	299	+	for such license. 233
	300	+	(g) Any application for authorization of a new institution in this state 234
	301	+	shall be subject to an on-site review upon a determination by the Office 235
	302	+	of Higher Education that the application is complete and shall be 236
	303	+	reviewed at the institutional level for each program as described in 237
	304	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
256	305
257	306
258		-	LCO 8 of 10
259	307
260		-	designee, determines that further review of an application is needed due 216
261		-	at least in part to the applicant offering instruction in a new program of 217
262		-	higher learning or new degree level or the financial condition of the 218
263		-	institution of higher education is determined to be at risk of imminent 219
264		-	closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the 220
265		-	provisions of section 10a-34h, then the commissioner or the 221
266		-	commissioner's designee shall conduct a focused or on-site review. Such 222
267		-	applicant shall have an opportunity to state any objection regarding any 223
268		-	individual selected to review an application on behalf of the 224
269		-	commissioner. For purposes of this subsection and subsection (f) of this 225
270		-	section, "focused review" means a review by an out-of-state curriculum 226
271		-	expert; and "on-site review" means a full team evaluation by the office 227
272		-	at the institution of higher education. 228
273		-	(f) The Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's 229
274		-	designee, may require (1) a focused or on-site review of any program 230
275		-	application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut, and 231
276		-	(2) evidence that a program application in a field requiring a license to 232
277		-	practice in Connecticut meets the state or federal licensing requirements 233
278		-	for such license. 234
279		-	(g) Any application for authorization of a new institution in this state 235
280		-	shall be subject to an on-site review upon a determination by the Office 236
281		-	of Higher Education that the application is complete and shall be 237
282		-	reviewed at the institutional level for each program as described in 238
283		-	subsection (b) of this section. Such process shall be completed not later 239
284		-	than nine months from the date said office receives the application. 240
285		-	(h) If the Office of Higher Education denies an application for 241
286		-	authorization of a program or institution of higher education, the 242
287		-	applicant may appeal the denial not later than ten days from the date of 243
288		-	denial. The office shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the 244
289		-	requirements of chapter 54 to hear such appeal. 245
290		-	(i) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall operate 246
291		-	a program of higher learning or an institution of higher education unless 247 Substitute Bill No. 6445
	308	+	LCO No. 3566 9 of 11
	309	+
	310	+	subsection (b) of this section. Such process shall be completed not later 238
	311	+	than nine months from the date said office receives the application. 239
	312	+	(h) If the Office of Higher Education denies an application for 240
	313	+	authorization of a program or institution of higher education, the 241
	314	+	applicant may appeal the denial not later than ten days from the date of 242
	315	+	denial. The office shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the 243
	316	+	requirements of chapter 54 to hear such appeal. 244
	317	+	(i) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall operate 245
	318	+	a program of higher learning or an institution of higher education unless 246
	319	+	it has been authorized by the Office of Higher Education, nor shall it 247
	320	+	confer any degree unless it has been authorized in accordance with this 248
	321	+	section. The office shall accept accreditation recognized by the Secretary 249
	322	+	of the United States Department of Education, in satisfaction of the 250
	323	+	requirements of this subsection unless the office finds cause not to rely 251
	324	+	upon such accreditation. If any institution of higher education provides 252
	325	+	evidence of programmatic accreditation, the office may consider such 253
	326	+	accreditation in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection and 254
	327	+	deem the program at issue in the application for accreditation to be 255
	328	+	accredited in accordance with this section. 256
	329	+	(j) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall use in 257
	330	+	any way the term "junior college" or "college" or "university" or use any 258
	331	+	other name, title, literature, catalogs, pamphlets or descriptive matter 259
	332	+	tending to designate that it is an institution of higher education, or that 260
	333	+	it may grant academic or professional degrees, unless the institution has 261
	334	+	been authorized by the office, nor shall it offer any program of higher 262
	335	+	learning without authorization of the Office of Higher Education. 263
	336	+	(k) Authorization of any program or institution or authority to award 264
	337	+	degrees granted in accordance with law prior to July 1, 1965, shall 265
	338	+	continue in effect unless the Office of Higher Education determines that 266
	339	+	an institution is at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial 267
	340	+	screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-34h. 268
	341	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
292	342
293	343
294		-	LCO 9 of 10
295	344
296		-	it has been authorized by the Office of Higher Education, nor shall it 248
297		-	confer any degree unless it has been authorized in accordance with this 249
298		-	section. The office shall accept accreditation recognized by the Secretary 250
299		-	of the United States Department of Education, in satisfaction of the 251
300		-	requirements of this subsection unless the office finds cause not to rely 252
301		-	upon such accreditation. If any institution of higher education provides 253
302		-	evidence of programmatic accreditation, the office may consider such 254
303		-	accreditation in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection and 255
304		-	deem the program at issue in the application for accreditation to be 256
305		-	accredited in accordance with this section. 257
306		-	(j) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall use in 258
307		-	any way the term "junior college" or "college" or "university" or use any 259
308		-	other name, title, literature, catalogs, pamphlets or descriptive matter 260
309		-	tending to designate that it is an institution of higher education, or that 261
310		-	it may grant academic or professional degrees, unless the institution has 262
311		-	been authorized by the office, nor shall it offer any program of higher 263
312		-	learning without authorization of the Office of Higher Education. 264
313		-	(k) Authorization of any program or institution or authority to award 265
314		-	degrees granted in accordance with law prior to July 1, 1965, shall 266
315		-	continue in effect unless the Office of Higher Education determines that 267
316		-	an institution is at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial 268
317		-	screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-34h. 269
318		-	(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (j), inclusive, 270
319		-	of this section and subject to the authority of the State Board of 271
320		-	Education to regulate teacher education programs, an independent 272
321		-	institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-173, shall not 273
322		-	require approval by the Office of Higher Education for any new 274
323		-	programs of higher learning or any program modifications proposed by 275
324		-	such institution, provided (1) the institution maintains eligibility to 276
325		-	participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the 277
326		-	Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (2) the 278
327		-	United States Department of Education has not determined that the 279
328		-	institution has a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the 280 Substitute Bill No. 6445
	345	+	LCO No. 3566 10 of 11
329	346
330		-
331		-	LCO 10 of 10
332		-
333		-	most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the 281
334		-	score is available, and (3) the institution has been located in the state and 282
335		-	accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten 283
336		-	years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the 284
337		-	Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains 285
338		-	such accreditation status. Each institution that is exempt from program 286
339		-	approval by the Office of Higher Education under this subsection shall 287
340		-	(A) on or before the last date of each semester, but not less frequently 288
341		-	than annually, update the credentials database, established pursuant to 289
342		-	the provisions of section 10a-35b, with any new programs of higher 290
343		-	learning that were introduced or any existing programs of higher 291
344		-	learning that were modified or discontinued during such semester, and 292
345		-	(B) not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, file with the office 293
346		-	(i) the institution's current program approval process and all actions of 294
347		-	the governing board concerning approval of any new program of higher 295
348		-	learning, and (ii) the institution's financial responsibility composite 296
349		-	score, as determined by the United States Department of Education, for 297
350		-	the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining 298
351		-	the score is available. 299
	347	+	(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (j), inclusive, 269
	348	+	of this section and subject to the authority of the State Board of 270
	349	+	Education to regulate teacher education programs, an independent 271
	350	+	institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-173, shall not 272
	351	+	require approval by the Office of Higher Education for any new 273
	352	+	programs of higher learning or any program modifications proposed by 274
	353	+	such institution, provided (1) the institution maintains eligibility to 275
	354	+	participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the 276
	355	+	Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (2) the 277
	356	+	United States Department of Education has not determined that the 278
	357	+	institution has a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the 279
	358	+	most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the 280
	359	+	score is available, and (3) the institution has been located in the state and 281
	360	+	accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten 282
	361	+	years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the 283
	362	+	Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains 284
	363	+	such accreditation status. Each institution that is exempt from program 285
	364	+	approval by the Office of Higher Education under this subsection shall 286
	365	+	(A) on or before the last date of each semester, but not less frequently 287
	366	+	than annually, update the credentials database, established pursuant to 288
	367	+	the provisions of section 10a-35b, with any new programs of higher 289
	368	+	learning that were introduced or any existing programs of higher 290
	369	+	learning that were modified or discontinued during such semester, and 291
	370	+	(B) not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, file with the office 292
	371	+	(i) the institution's current program approval process and all actions of 293
	372	+	the governing board concerning approval of any new program of higher 294
	373	+	learning, and (ii) the institution's financial responsibility composite 295
	374	+	score, as determined by the United States Department of Education, for 296
	375	+	the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining 297
	376	+	the score is available. 298
352	377		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
353	378		sections:
354	379
355	380		Section 1 July 1, 2025 10a-57f
	381	+	Raised Bill No. 6445
	382	+
	383	+
	384	+
	385	+	LCO No. 3566 11 of 11
	386	+
356	387		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10a-22c
357	388		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10a-22d(e)
358	389		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10a-34
359	390
360		-	HED Joint Favorable Subst.
361		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
362		-	In Section 4(a)(7)(B) and (E), "of such institution" was inserted after
363		-	"parent corporation" for clarity.
	391	+	Statement of Purpose:
	392	+	To (1) define when an institution of higher education is in-state or out-
	393	+	of-state, (2) prohibit reauthorization of any private career school that
	394	+	does not enroll students during the previous two years, (3) allow an
	395	+	extension for private career school authorization of ninety days, instead
	396	+	of sixty days, and (4) require approval for change of ownership of an
	397	+	institution of higher education.
	398	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	399	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	400	+	underlined.]
364	401