AB281: Bill Text

AB281,5,8 20.292 (2) (g) Approval of school programs. The amounts in the schedule for the examination and approval of school programs under ch. 37. Ninety percent of all moneys received from the fees under s. 37.40 (3) (c) shall be credited to this appropriation account.

AB281, s. 3 Section 3. 20.292 (2) (gm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB281,5,15 20.292 (2) (gm) Student protection. All moneys received from fees received under s. 38.50 (10) (c) 4. 37.40 (3) (d) and from amounts recovered under s. 37.50 (1), for the purpose of indemnifying students, parents, or sponsors under s. 38.50 (10) (a) 37.50 (1) and for the purpose of preserving under s. 38.50 (11) 37.55 the students records of schools, as defined in s. 38.50 (11) (a) 2. 37.55 (1) (a), that have discontinued their operations.

AB281, s. 4 Section 4. 20.292 (2) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB281,5,21 20.292 (2) (i) Closed schools; preservation of student records. All moneys received from fees collected under s. 38.50 (11) (d) 37.55 (4) to be used for the administrative costs of taking possession of, preserving, and providing copies of student records of schools, as defined in s. 38.50 (11) (a) 2. 37.55 (1) (a), that have discontinued their operations.

AB281, s. 5 Section 5. 29.506 (7m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB281,6,2 29.506 (7m) (a) The department shall issue a taxidermy school permit to a person who applies for the permit; who, on August 15, 1991, holds held a valid taxidermist permit issued under this section; and who, on August 15, 1991, operates operated a taxidermy school approved by the educational approval board under s. 38.50 38.51, 1991 stats.

AB281, s. 6 Section 6. 37.01 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,6,5 37.01 (2) "Fee" means an application fee, a fee charged for tuition, books, or materials, or any other fee charged to attend a school.

AB281, s. 7 Section 7. 37.01 (6) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,6,8 37.01 (6) (f) A school that another state agency or board is expressly authorized by statute to approve and supervise.

AB281, s. 8 Section 8. 37.10 (2) to (6) of the statutes are created to read:

AB281,6,11 37.10 (2) Collecting and disseminating outcome and satisfaction information for students attending schools.

AB281,6,12 (3) Performing annual reviews of schools.

AB281,6,13 (4) Conducting regular on-site evaluations of schools.

AB281,6,15 (5) Holding schools accountable for improving their performance and effectiveness.

AB281,6,16 (6) Supporting options for innovative and quality programs offered by schools.

AB281, s. 9 Section 9. 37.15 of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,6,22 37.15 Accountability. The board shall develop, periodically review, and, if appropriate, revise a strategic plan for achieving its purposes under s. 37.10. The strategic plan shall include specific goals, objectives, and measurable results. The board shall use the strategic plan to evaluate annually its performance and effectiveness.

AB281, s. 10 Section 10. 37.35 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,6,25 37.35 (2) Establish standards and criteria for approving schools offering programs that are delivered primarily by distance learning.

AB281, s. 11 Section 11. 37.35 (3) (c), (d), (e) and (g) of the statutes are created to read:

AB281,7,3 37.35 (3) (c) Student services, including employment assistance services, the school provides.

AB281,7,4 (d) The school's complaint procedures.

AB281,7,5 (e) Student outcome and satisfaction information.

AB281,7,7 (g) Any other information that the board considers necessary to accomplish the goals specified in s. 37.35 (intro.).

AB281, s. 12 Section 12. 37.35 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,7,11 37.35 (8) Require schools to comply with all applicable building, plumbing, electrical, and fire codes and all similar codes established for the protection of the health and safety of occupants of school buildings.

AB281, s. 13 Section 13. 37.40 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,7,13 37.40 (title) Approval; application; fees.

AB281, s. 14 Section 14. 37.45 of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,7,19 37.45 Reporting. (1) Information about school. An approved school shall annually submit to the board information about the school as prescribed by the board, including a current school catalog, an enrollment contract, if one is used by the school, copies of advertising used by the school during the preceding year, and financial information as the board considers necessary.

AB281,8,2 (2) Student outcome and satisfaction information. An approved school shall annually report to the board student satisfaction and outcome information, including information on the number of students from the prior year who are continuing in the current year, the number of new students starting in the current year, the number of students who have dropped out or withdrawn since the prior year, the number of students who are anticipated to continue next year, the number of students completing a program, the number of completers successfully employed, and such other information as the board considers necessary.

AB281,8,5 (3) Institutional plan. An approved school shall have an institutional plan and shall report annually to the board on the progress of the school in achieving the goals of the plan.

AB281, s. 15 Section 15. 37.50 of the statutes is created to read:

AB281,8,13 37.50 Consumer protection. (1) Student protection fund. If a school closure results in losses to students, parents, or sponsors, the board may authorize the full or partial payment of those losses from the appropriation under s. 20.292 (2) (gm). The board may pursue any legal action it considers necessary to recover any losses paid from that appropriation. Any losses recovered under this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.292 (2) (gm).

AB281, s. 16 Section 16. 37.60 of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

AB281, s. 17 Section 17. 38.50 (title) of the statutes is renumbered chapter 37 (title).

AB281, s. 18 Section 18. 38.50 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,8,20 37.01 Definitions. (intro.) In this section chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

AB281, s. 19 Section 19. 38.50 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (1) and amended to read:

AB281,8,24 37.01 (1) Notwithstanding s. 38.01 (2), "board" "Board" means the educational approval board.

AB281, s. 20 Section 20. 38.50 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB281, s. 21 Section 21. 38.50 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (4) and amended to read:

AB281,9,8 37.01 (4) "Course of instruction" "Program" means a series of classroom or correspondence courses having a unified purpose which lead course of study that provides practical or academic instruction, education, or training leading to a diploma or, certificate, degree or to an occupational or vocational objective, or other indicia that a student has acquired knowledge or skills, but does not include education or training offered by an employer solely to its employees.

AB281, s. 22 Section 22. 38.50 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (3).

AB281, s. 23 Section 23. 38.50 (1) (e) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,9,15 37.01 (6) (intro.) "School" means any person, whether located within or outside this state, that offers, maintains, provides, or conducts a program for a fee, including any private trade, correspondence, business, or technical, career, distance learning, or degree-granting school, but does not include not including any of the following:

AB281, s. 24 Section 24. 38.50 (1) (e) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,9,20 37.01 (6) (a) (intro.) In-state schools that are An in-state school that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and that either were meets any of the following requirements:

AB281,9,22 1. Was incorporated in this state prior to January 1, 1992, or had their and has continuously been in good standing under ch. 181 since the date of incorporation.

AB281,9,24 2. Had its administrative headquarters and principal places of business in this state prior to 1970.

AB281, s. 25 Section 25. 38.50 (1) (e) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (b) and amended to read:

AB281,10,3 37.01 (6) (b) Schools that are A school that is supported mainly by taxes.

AB281, s. 26 Section 26. 38.50 (1) (e) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (c) and amended to read:

AB281,10,8 37.01 (6) (c) Schools A school offering only programs that are of a parochial or denominational character offering courses having, that have a sectarian objective, and that are limited to use in the ministry of a religion, as determined by the board.

AB281, s. 27 Section 27. 38.50 (1) (e) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (d) and amended to read:

AB281,10,13 37.01 (6) (d) Schools primarily offering instruction A school offering a program that is avocational or recreational in nature and not leading to that does not have a vocational objective.

AB281, s. 28 Section 28. 38.50 (1) (e) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (e) and amended to read:

AB281,10,18 37.01 (6) (e) Courses conducted by A school that only offers programs to employers exclusively for the exclusive use of their employees and without charge to those employees.

AB281, s. 29 Section 29. 38.50 (1) (e) 6. of the statutes is repealed.

AB281, s. 30 Section 30. 38.50 (1) (e) 7. of the statutes is repealed.

AB281, s. 31 Section 31. 38.50 (1) (e) 8. of the statutes is repealed.

AB281, s. 32 Section 32. 38.50 (1) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (5) and amended to read:

AB281,11,2 37.01 (5) "Solicitor" "Representative" means a person employed by or representing a school located either within or outside this state that who, in places other than the actual business premises of the school, personally attempts to secure the enrollment of a student in the school.

AB281, s. 33 Section 33. 38.50 (1) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (7) and amended to read:

AB281,11,6 37.01 (7) "Teaching location" means the area and facilities designated for use by a school that are required to be approved by the board under this section chapter.

AB281, s. 34 Section 34. 38.50 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 37.10 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,11,12 37.10 Responsibilities Purposes. (intro.) The board shall purposes of the board are to protect the general public by inspecting and to support quality educational options. The board shall accomplish those purposes by doing all of the following:

AB281,11,18 (1) Evaluating and approving private trade, correspondence, business, and technical schools doing business within this state, whether located within or outside this state, changes of ownership or control of the schools, teaching locations used by the schools, and courses of instruction offered by the schools and regulate the soliciting of students for correspondence or classroom courses and courses of instruction offered by the schools.

AB281, s. 35 Section 35. 38.50 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 37.25 and amended to read:

AB281,11,21 37.25 Rule-making power. The board shall promulgate rules and establish standards necessary to administer this section chapter.

AB281, s. 36 Section 36. 38.50 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 37.20 and amended to read:

AB281,12,3 37.20 Employees, quarters. The board shall employ a person to perform the duties of an executive secretary director and any other persons under the classified service that may be necessary to carry out the board's responsibilities purposes. The person performing the duties of the executive secretary director shall be in charge of the administrative functions of the board. The board shall, to the maximum extent practicable, keep its office with the technical college system board.

AB281, s. 37 Section 37. 38.50 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,12,12 37.35 Approval of schools generally Responsibilities. (intro.) To protect students, prevent fraud and misrepresentation in the sale and advertising of courses and courses of instruction, and encourage schools to maintain courses and courses of instruction consistent in quality, content, and length with hold schools accountable for achieving satisfactory student outcomes and to ensure that programs meet generally accepted educational, occupational, and industry standards, the board shall do all of the following:

AB281, s. 38 Section 38. 38.50 (7) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (1) and amended to read:

AB281,12,17 37.35 (1) Investigate Evaluate the adequacy of courses and courses of instruction programs offered by schools to residents of this state and establish minimum standards for those courses of instruction.

AB281, s. 39 Section 39. 38.50 (7) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB281, s. 40 Section 40. 38.50 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (6) and amended to read:

AB281,12,23 37.35 (6) Establish rules, standards , and criteria to prevent fraud and misrepresentation in the sale and advertising of courses and courses of instruction programs.

AB281, s. 41 Section 41. 38.50 (7) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (5) and amended to read:

AB281,13,3 37.35 (5) Promulgate rules restricting Prescribe restrictions on the negotiability of promissory instruments received by schools in payment of tuition and other charges fees.

AB281, s. 42 Section 42. 38.50 (7) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (7) and amended to read:

AB281,13,8 37.35 (7) Establish minimum standards for refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees, and other charges if a student does not enter a course or course of instruction program or withdraws or is discontinued from the course program.

AB281, s. 43 Section 43. 38.50 (7) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 37.35 (3) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB281,13,14 37.35 (3) (intro.) Require schools offering courses and courses of instruction to residents of this state to furnish a school, prior to enrolling a student who is a resident of this state, to provide the student with a catalog that includes information concerning their all of the following:

AB281,13,15 (a) The school's mission, facilities, curricula, programs, and instructors,.

AB281,13,17 (b) The school's policies concerning enrollment policies, tuition and other charges and and admissions, academic progress, and student conduct.