Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB550 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

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4		-	An Act
5		-	ENROLLED SENATE
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
	30	+
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
	32	+
	33	+	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
	34	+
	35	+	ENGROSSED SENATE
6	36		BILL NO. 550 By: Seifried of the Senate
7	37
8	38		and
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10		-	Moore ~~and Deck~~ of the House
	40	+	Moore of the House
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15	45		An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S.
16	46		2021, Section 4103, which relates to accreditation of
17	47		certain institutions; directing certain policies and
18	48		procedures to include certain provisions; providing
19	49		for promulgation of rules; creating the Tuition
20	50		Recovery Revolving Fund; specifying source of fund;
21	51		providing for expenditures; providing purpose of
22	52		fund; providing for codification; providing an
23	53		effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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29		-	SUBJECT: Higher education
30		-
31	59		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
32		-
33	60		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 4103, is
34	61		amended to read as follows:
35		-
36	62		Section 4103. A. As used in this sectio n:
37		-
38	63		1. “Degree-granting institution” means an institution tha t
39	64		offers education leading to an associate ’s degree or higher;
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41	65		2. “Non-degree-granting activity” means offering education or
42	66		training that does not lead to an associate ’s degree or higher; and
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44	94		3. “State authorization reciprocity agreement ” means an
45	95		agreement among states, districts , and territories that establishes
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47		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 550 Page 2
48	96		comparable standards for providing distance education from their
49	97		postsecondary educational institutions to out -of-state students.
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51	98		B. All private and out-of-state public degree-granting
52	99		institutions shall be accredited by a national or regional an
53	100		accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secret ary of the
54	101		United States Department of Education as a reliable authority as to
55	102		the quality of education or training offered by institutions of
56	103		higher education for the purposes of the Higher Education Act of
57	104		1965, as amended. Addi tionally, for the purpose s of consumer
58	105		protection and to maintain financial eligibility for Title IV
59	106		funding as described in 34 CFR Part 600, institutions shall be
60	107		authorized according to the policies and procedures established by
61	108		the Oklahoma State Regent s for Higher Education. These policies and
62	109		procedures shall be limited to a complaint process provision,
63	110		standards for operation, stipulations for a written enrollment
64	111		agreement between the institution and the student and reporting
65	112		requirements the minimum necessary to ensure tha t private and out-
66	113		of-state degree-granting institutions that operate in this state by
67	114		any modality meet the same standards of academic quality and fiscal
68	115		responsibility required for institutions of higher education within
69	116		The Oklahoma State System of Highe r Education. Beginning with the
70	117		2023-2024 academic year, t he State Regents shall:
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72	145		1. Establish and collect fees annually from applicants for
73	146		authorization as necessary to cover the costs of authorization;
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75	147		2. Require applicants for authorization to submi t payment in an
76	148		amount established by the State Regents into the Tuition Recovery
77	149		Revolving Fund created in Section 2 of this act, which shall be used
78	150		to offset student tuition losses in the event an authorized
79	151		institution closes or c eases operations; and
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81	152		3. Be authorized to deny, not renew, or revoke an institution ’s
82	153		authorization if it is found to be in violation of the Oklahoma
83	154		statutes, it fails to meet the minimum authorization standards
84	155		established by the State Regents , or an accrediting agency or other
85	156		government entity revokes its approval, which is material to the
86	157		continuity of the institution. An institution subject to the
87	158		provisions of this paragraph shall be given reasonable notice and an
88	159		opportunity to be heard prior to a decision to deny, not renew, or
89	160		revoke authorization.
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93	161		C. The following institutions shall be exempt from thi s
94	162		section:
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96	163		1. Private institutions participating in the Oklahoma Tuition
97	164		Equalization Grant program; and
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99	165		2. Out-of-state public and private in stitutions participating
100	166		in a state authorization reciprocity agreeme nt that only conduct
101	167		activities in Oklahoma that are acceptable under the terms and
102	168		conditions of the state authorization reciprocity a greement.
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104	196		C. D. Non-exempt institutions engaged in non-degree granting
105	197		activities, such as offering certificates and diplom as, shall be
106	198		subject to the standards ad ministered by the Oklahoma Board of
107	199		Private Vocational Schools.
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109	200		E. The State Regents shall promulgate rules to implement the
110	201		provisions of this section.
111		-
112	202		SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
113	203		in the Oklahoma Statute s as Section 4103.1 of Title 70, unless there
114	204		is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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116	205		There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
117	206		for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to be designated
118	207		the “Tuition Recovery Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a
119	208		continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall
120	209		consist of all monies received by the State Regents from fees
121	210		collected pursuant to Section 4103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
122	211		Statutes. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby
123	212		appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Regents
124	213		for the purpose of offsetting student tuition losses in th e event
125	214		that an institution authorized pursuant to Section 4103 of Title 70
126	215		of the Oklahoma Statutes closes or ceases operations. Expenditures
127	216		from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State
128	217		Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by la w with the
129	218		Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
130	219		approval and payment.
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132	247		SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
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135		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 550 Page 4
136	248		SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
137	249		of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
138	250		declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
139	251		be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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142		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 550 Page 5
143		-	Passed the Senate the 9th day of March, 2023.
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145		-
146		-
147		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
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150		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 20th day of April, 2023.
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154		-	Presiding Officer of the House
155		-	of Representatives
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157		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
158		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
159		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
160		-	By: _______________________________ __
161		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
162		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
163		-
164		-	_________________________________
165		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
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167		-
168		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
169		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
170		-	day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
171		-	By: _______________________________ __
	253	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER TECH,
	254	+	dated 04/10/2023 - DO PASS.