SB511,6 11Section 6. 39.85 of the statutes is created to read:
SB511,4,12 1239.85 Definitions. In this subchapter:
SB511,4,13 13(1) "Board" means the distance learning authorization board.
SB511,4,16 14(2) "Other jurisdiction" or "another jurisdiction" means any state of the United
15States other than Wisconsin, any foreign country, the District of Columbia, the
16commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States.
SB511,7 17Section 7. 39.86 of the statutes is created to read:
SB511,4,19 1839.86 Distance education reciprocity agreement. (1) Definitions. In
19this section:
SB511,4,2020 (a) "Agreement" means any of the following:
SB511,4,2521 1. The agreement developed by the National Council for State Authorization
22Reciprocity Agreements that, as of the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB
23inserts date], is known as the "State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement" and that,
24for the region that includes this state, is administered under the midwestern higher
25education compact entered into by this state under s. 39.80.
SB511,5,2
12. Any amendment or superseding version of the agreement described in subd.
21.
SB511,5,53 3. Any other interstate reciprocity agreement related to state authorization
4and oversight of postsecondary institutions that offer distance education to students
5located beyond the borders of the state where the institution is located.
SB511,5,86 (b) "Distance education program" means the offering of courses for credit to
7students in another jurisdiction that will lead to a degree or certificate from the
8institution offering the course.
SB511,5,109 (c) "Eligible institution" means a postsecondary institution to which all of the
10following apply:
SB511,5,1411 1. The institution holds institutional accreditation by name, as a single entity,
12from an accrediting agency or association that is recognized by the federal secretary
13of education as meeting the criteria established under 20 USC 1099b and that has
14formal recognition to accredit distance education programs.
SB511,5,1715 2. The institution maintains its principal campus in this state, and this state
16is the state where the institution's principal campus holds its institutional
17accreditation as described in subd. 1.
SB511,5,1918 3. The institution has authority, which is not derived under this section, to offer
19in this state degrees at the associate level or higher.
SB511,5,2120 4. The institution offers any distance education program and grants degrees
21or certificates in connection with the program.
SB511,5,23 22(2) Authorization to enter into an agreement. (a) Subject to par. (b), the
23board, on behalf of this state, may enter into an agreement.
SB511,6,3
1(b) 1. Before entering into an agreement, the board shall provide written notice
2to the joint committee on finance of the board's intention to enter into an agreement,
3which notice shall include a copy of the agreement.
SB511,6,114 2. If, within 14 working days after the date of the notice under subd. 1., the
5cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the board that the
6committee has scheduled a meeting to review the board's proposal to enter into the
7agreement, the board may enter into the agreement. If, within 14 working days after
8the date of the notice, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the board that the
9committee has scheduled a meeting to review the board's proposal to enter into the
10agreement, the board may not enter into the agreement unless the committee
11approves.
SB511,6,1312 (c) If the board enters into an agreement under par. (a), the board shall comply
13with the provisions of the agreement.
SB511,6,1714 (d) If the board enters into an agreement under par. (a), the board shall provide
15notice to the legislative reference bureau and the legislative reference bureau shall
16publish a notice of the state's joinder in the agreement in the Wisconsin
17administrative register under s. 35.93 (2).
SB511,6,2018 (e) If the board enters into an agreement under par. (a), the board shall be this
19state's lead contact agency, or portal agency, for purposes of the agreement, including
20administration, enforcement, and compliance under the agreement.
SB511,6,22 21(3) Powers and duties of the board. (a) Subject to sub. (7), if the board enters
22into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board shall do all of the following:
SB511,6,2423 1. Review and authorize eligible institutions for the offering of distance
24education programs, consistent with the provisions of the agreement.
SB511,7,2
12. Create and maintain a list of eligible institutions authorized by the board
2under subd. 1.
SB511,7,73 3. Maintain and administer a complaint resolution process, consistent with the
4provisions of the agreement, for complaints related to the distance education
5programs of eligible institutions authorized by the board, including complaints
6originating outside of this state. The complaint resolution process shall require
7complaints to be first addressed at the institutional level.
SB511,7,108 4. Monitor the eligible institutions authorized by the board with respect to
9consumer protection of students enrolled in these institutions' distance education
10programs.
SB511,7,1411 5. Compile and provide data related to students enrolled in board-authorized
12distance education programs to the extent required by the agreement. The board's
13responsibility under this subdivision is subject to any provision of state or federal law
14protecting the privacy of student data.
SB511,7,2015 6. Administer and enforce the provisions of the agreement, including through
16investigation and appropriate action, with respect to those eligible institutions
17authorized by the board. The board may take action, consistent with the provisions
18of the agreement, against a non-complying eligible institution, including
19suspending or revoking, or denying renewal of, the eligible institution's
20authorization under subd. 1.
SB511,7,2321 7. Work cooperatively with any other jurisdiction that has entered into the
22agreement and, as applicable, other agencies of this state with responsibilities that
23include consumer protection or oversight of postsecondary institutions.
SB511,8,424 8. Beginning with the first January 30 to occur not less than 6 months after the
25board enters into the agreement, and no later than January 30 of each year

1thereafter, and also upon specific request of the governor, submit a report to the
2governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the
3legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that summarizes the board's actions taken during the
4immediately preceding calendar year relating to the provisions of the agreement.
SB511,8,85 (b) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board may
6impose, upon eligible institutions authorized by the board, any requirement dictated
7by or consistent with the provisions of the agreement, including requiring the
8institution to do any of the following:
SB511,8,109 1. Provide a complaint form for student complaints related to the institution's
10distance education programs.
SB511,8,1311 2. Compile and provide data to the board relating to the institution's distance
12education programs and students enrolled in these programs, subject to any
13provision of state or federal law protecting the privacy of student data.
SB511,8,1514 (c) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the board may
15establish procedures consistent with the provisions of the agreement.
SB511,8,17 16(4) Staffing. The board may require each agency or organization represented
17on the board to provide staffing resources for the board.
SB511,8,22 18(5) Fees. The board may establish reasonable fees to be imposed in connection
19with any function or service provided by the board under this section, including fees
20for authorizing eligible institutions for the offering of distance education programs.
21All fees collected by the board shall be credited to the appropriation account under
22s. 20.235 (3) (g).
SB511,8,24 23(6) Jurisdictional division. (a) The regulatory authority of the board is limited
24to the authority specified in this section and summarized in par. (b).
SB511,9,2
1(b) If the board enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), all of the following
2apply:
SB511,9,43 1. The board has jurisdiction over postsecondary institutions only with respect
4to distance education programs of eligible institutions.
SB511,9,95 2. This section does not grant the board responsibility or control over the
6operations of a postsecondary institution headquartered in this state, including with
7respect to curriculum, admission requirements, graduation standards, finances,
8student information covered by federal or state privacy laws, or governance, beyond
9the provisions of the agreement.
SB511,9,15 10(7) Voluntary participation by postsecondary institutions. If the board
11enters into an agreement under sub. (2) (a), an eligible institution is not required to
12obtain authorization from the board for its distance education program but, if the
13institution elects not to obtain the board's authorization, the institution may not
14receive any benefit under the agreement and is subject to applicable federal and state
15laws of any other jurisdiction where the student is located.
SB511,8 16Section 8. 39.87 of the statutes is created to read:
SB511,9,19 1739.87 Listing of exempt institutions. (1) Definitions. In this section,
18"program integrity rules" means the final regulations of the federal department of
19education set forth in 75 Fed. Reg. 66832 to 66975 (October 29, 2010), as amended.
SB511,9,25 20(2) List of exempt institutions. (a) The board shall create and maintain a list
21of the names of all postsecondary institutions that, under the program integrity
22rules, are legally authorized in this state and constitute institutions of higher
23education under 20 USC 1001 (a) (2) and that are exempt from additional state
24authorization requirements as provided under the program integrity rules. The
25board shall make this list available to the public.
SB511,10,4
1(b) At least annually, the board shall provide the list of names of exempt
2institutions under par. (a) to the legislative reference bureau and the legislative
3reference bureau shall publish the list in the Wisconsin administrative register
4under s. 35.93 (2).
SB511,10,11 5(3) Reports. No later than January 30, 2017, and by January 30 of each year
6thereafter, and also upon specific request of the governor, the board shall submit a
7report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for
8distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that summarizes the board's
9actions taken during the immediately preceding calendar year relating to the list of
10exempt institutions under sub. (2) (a) and compliance with related requirements and
11regulations of the federal department of education.
SB511,9 12Section 9. 227.01 (13) (yo) and (yp) of the statutes are created to read:
SB511,10,1413 227.01 (13) (yo) Establishes procedures under s. 39.86 (3) (c) or fees under s.
1439.86 (5).
SB511,10,1515 (yp) Lists exempt institutions under s. 39.87 (2).
SB511,10,1616 (End)
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