SB511: Bill Text

SB511,6,17 (d) If the board enters into an agreement under par. (a), the board shall provide notice to the legislative reference bureau and the legislative reference bureau shall publish a notice of the state's joinder in the agreement in the Wisconsin administrative register under s. 35.93 (2).

SB511,6,20 (e) If the board enters into an agreement under par. (a), the board shall be this state's lead contact agency, or portal agency, for purposes of the agreement, including administration, enforcement, and compliance under the agreement.

SB511,6,22 (3) Powers and duties of the board. (a) Subject to sub. (7), if the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board shall do all of the following:

SB511,6,24 1. Review and authorize eligible institutions for the offering of distance education programs, consistent with the provisions of the agreement.

SB511,7,2 2. Create and maintain a list of eligible institutions authorized by the board under subd. 1.

SB511,7,7 3. Maintain and administer a complaint resolution process, consistent with the provisions of the agreement, for complaints related to the distance education programs of eligible institutions authorized by the board, including complaints originating outside of this state. The complaint resolution process shall require complaints to be first addressed at the institutional level.

SB511,7,10 4. Monitor the eligible institutions authorized by the board with respect to consumer protection of students enrolled in these institutions' distance education programs.

SB511,7,14 5. Compile and provide data related to students enrolled in board-authorized distance education programs to the extent required by the agreement. The board's responsibility under this subdivision is subject to any provision of state or federal law protecting the privacy of student data.

SB511,7,20 6. Administer and enforce the provisions of the agreement, including through investigation and appropriate action, with respect to those eligible institutions authorized by the board. The board may take action, consistent with the provisions of the agreement, against a non-complying eligible institution, including suspending or revoking, or denying renewal of, the eligible institution's authorization under subd. 1.

SB511,7,23 7. Work cooperatively with any other jurisdiction that has entered into the agreement and, as applicable, other agencies of this state with responsibilities that include consumer protection or oversight of postsecondary institutions.

SB511,8,4 8. Beginning with the first January 30 to occur not less than 6 months after the board enters into the agreement, and no later than January 30 of each year thereafter, and also upon specific request of the governor, submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that summarizes the board's actions taken during the immediately preceding calendar year relating to the provisions of the agreement.

SB511,8,8 (b) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board may impose, upon eligible institutions authorized by the board, any requirement dictated by or consistent with the provisions of the agreement, including requiring the institution to do any of the following:

SB511,8,10 1. Provide a complaint form for student complaints related to the institution's distance education programs.

SB511,8,13 2. Compile and provide data to the board relating to the institution's distance education programs and students enrolled in these programs, subject to any provision of state or federal law protecting the privacy of student data.

SB511,8,15 (c) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board may establish procedures consistent with the provisions of the agreement.

SB511,8,17 (4) Staffing. The board may require each agency or organization represented on the board to provide staffing resources for the board.

SB511,8,22 (5) Fees. The board may establish reasonable fees to be imposed in connection with any function or service provided by the board under this section, including fees for authorizing eligible institutions for the offering of distance education programs. All fees collected by the board shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (3) (g).

SB511,8,24 (6) Jurisdictional division. (a) The regulatory authority of the board is limited to the authority specified in this section and summarized in par. (b).

SB511,9,2 (b) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), all of the following apply:

SB511,9,4 1. The board has jurisdiction over postsecondary institutions only with respect to distance education programs of eligible institutions.

SB511,9,9 2. This section does not grant the board responsibility or control over the operations of a postsecondary institution headquartered in this state, including with respect to curriculum, admission requirements, graduation standards, finances, student information covered by federal or state privacy laws, or governance, beyond the provisions of the agreement.

SB511,9,15 (7) Voluntary participation by postsecondary institutions. If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), an eligible institution is not required to obtain authorization from the board for its distance education program but, if the institution elects not to obtain the board's authorization, the institution may not receive any benefit under the agreement and is subject to applicable federal and state laws of any other jurisdiction where the student is located.

SB511,8 Section 8. 39.87 of the statutes is created to read:

SB511,9,19 39.87 Listing of exempt institutions. (1) Definitions. In this section, "program integrity rules" means the final regulations of the federal department of education set forth in 75 Fed. Reg. 66832 to 66975 (October 29, 2010), as amended.

SB511,9,25 (2) List of exempt institutions. (a) The board shall create and maintain a list of the names of all postsecondary institutions that, under the program integrity rules, are legally authorized in this state and constitute institutions of higher education under 20 USC 1001 (a) (2) and that are exempt from additional state authorization requirements as provided under the program integrity rules. The board shall make this list available to the public.

SB511,10,4 (b) At least annually, the board shall provide the list of names of exempt institutions under par. (a) to the legislative reference bureau and the legislative reference bureau shall publish the list in the Wisconsin administrative register under s. 35.93 (2).

SB511,10,11 (3) Reports. No later than January 30, 2017, and by January 30 of each year thereafter, and also upon specific request of the governor, the board shall submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that summarizes the board's actions taken during the immediately preceding calendar year relating to the list of exempt institutions under sub. (2) (a) and compliance with related requirements and regulations of the federal department of education.

SB511,9 Section 9. 227.01 (13) (yo) and (yp) of the statutes are created to read:

SB511,10,14 227.01 (13) (yo) Establishes procedures under s. 39.86 (3) (c) or fees under s. 39.86 (5).

SB511,10,15 (yp) Lists exempt institutions under s. 39.87 (2).

SB511,10,16 (End)