Bill Text: CA AB70 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Private postsecondary education: California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 153, Statutes of 2020. [AB70 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB70-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 70
CHAPTER 153

An act to amend Section 94801.5 of, and to add Sections 94850.2, 94858.5, and 94874.1 to, the Education Code, relating to private postsecondary education.

[ Approved by Governor  September 25, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State  September 25, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 70, Berman. Private postsecondary education: California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009.
Existing law, the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, provides, among other things, for student protections and regulatory oversight of private postsecondary institutions in the state. The act is enforced by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act exempts an institution from its application if any of a list of specific criteria are met. Existing law requires an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution to comply with specified requirements, including providing the bureau evidence of the institution’s accreditation. Existing law repeals the act on January 1, 2021. If the operation of the act is extended by another measure, existing law, effective July 1, 2022, requires additional duties by an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution.
This bill would define nonprofit corporation and public institution of higher education specially for purposes of the act. The bill would specify that only an institution of higher education meeting the act’s definition of nonprofit corporation or public institution of higher education is exempt from the requirements imposed on an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution. The bill, commencing January 1, 2022, would prohibit the bureau from verifying the exemption of, or contracting to handle complaints for, a nonprofit institution that operated as a for-profit institution during any period on or after January 1, 2010, unless the Attorney General verifies specified information, and would require the Attorney General to provide written notification to the institution and the bureau of its verification within 90 days of receipt of all information the Attorney General determines is necessary for the verification. The bill, commencing January 1, 2022, would authorize appeal of actions taken by the bureau and the Attorney General to the superior court. The provisions of this bill would be implemented only if the operation of the act is extended by another measure.
Under existing law, the act specifies conduct by regulated institutions that, if undertaken, is a crime.
Because this bill would extend the application of those criminal provisions, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 94801.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 520 of the Statutes of 2019, is amended to read:

94801.5.
 (a) Effective July 1, 2017, an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution shall register with the bureau, pay a fee pursuant to Section 94930.5, and comply with all of the following:
(1) The institution shall provide the bureau with all of the following information:
(A) Evidence of accreditation.
(B) Evidence that the institution is approved to operate in the state where the institution maintains its main administrative location.
(C) The agent for service of process consistent with Section 94943.5.
(D) A copy of the institution’s catalog and sample enrollment agreement.
(2) The institution shall comply with the requirements of the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, established in Article 14 (commencing with Section 94923), and regulations adopted by the bureau related to the fund, for its students residing in California.
(3) The institution shall provide disclosures pursuant to the requirements for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, established in Article 14 (commencing with Section 94923), and regulations adopted by the bureau related to the fund, for its students residing in California.
(b) This section does not apply to a higher education institution that grants undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that is either formed as a nonprofit corporation and is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or is a public institution of higher education.
(c) An institution described in subdivision (a) that fails to comply with this section is not authorized to operate in this state.
(d) A registration with the bureau pursuant to this section shall be valid for two years.
(e) The bureau shall develop, through emergency regulations, a registration form. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code. These emergency regulations shall become law through the regular rulemaking process by January 1, 2018.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2022, and as of January 1, 2023, is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 94801.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 520 of the Statutes of 2019, is amended to read:

94801.5.
 (a) An out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution shall register with the bureau, pay a fee pursuant to Section 94930.5, and comply with all of the following:
(1) The institution shall provide the bureau with all of the following information for consideration of initial registration by the bureau pursuant to paragraph (2).
(A) Evidence of institutional accreditation.
(B) Evidence that the institution is approved to operate in the state where the institution maintains its main administrative location.
(C) The agent for service of process consistent with Section 94943.5.
(D) A copy of the institution’s catalog and, if the institution uses enrollment agreements, a copy of a sample enrollment agreement.
(E) Whether or not the institution, or a predecessor institution under substantially the same control or ownership, had its authorization or approval revoked or suspended by a state or by the federal government, or, within five years before submission of the registration, was subject to an enforcement action by a state or by the federal government that resulted in the imposition of limits on enrollment or student aid, or is subject to such an action that is not final and that was ongoing at the time of submission of the registration.
(F) Whether or not the institution, or a controlling officer of, or a controlling interest or controlling investor in, the institution or in the parent entity of the institution, had been subject to any education, consumer protection, unfair business practice, fraud, or related enforcement action by a state or federal agency within five years before submitting the registration. If so, the institution shall provide the bureau a copy of the operative complaint with the registration.
(G) Whether or not the institution is currently on probation, show cause, or subject to other adverse action, or the equivalent thereof, by its accreditor or has had its accreditation revoked or suspended within the five years before submitting the registration.
(H) Whether or not the institution, within five years before submitting the registration, has settled, or been adjudged to have liability for, a civil complaint alleging the institution’s failure to provide educational services, including a complaint alleging a violation of Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-318) or a similar state law, or a complaint alleging a violation of a law concerning consumer protection, unfair business practice, or fraud, filed by a student or former student, an employee or former employee, or a public official, for more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). The institution shall provide the bureau a copy of the complaint filed by the plaintiff and a copy of the judgment or settlement agreement for any such judgment or settlement, and the bureau shall consider, pursuant to paragraph (2), all material terms and aspects of the settlement, including, for example, whether a student plaintiff remained enrolled or reenrolled at the institution.
(I) Any additional documentation the bureau deems necessary for consideration in the registration process.
(2) When considering whether to approve, deny, or condition initial registration based upon the information provided by an institution pursuant to paragraph (1), the bureau shall do all of the following:
(A) Not consider any individual submission made under paragraph (1) to be solely determinative of the institution’s eligibility for registration but, exercising its reasonable discretion, approve, reject, or condition registration based upon a review of all of the information provided to it under paragraph (1).
(B) Provide an institution with reasonable notice and opportunity to comment before the bureau regarding any determination to deny, condition, or reject initial registration before that determination becomes final. After the determination becomes final, the institution may seek review of the bureau’s decision through an action brought pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(C) Require the initial registration, if approved, to memorialize that the institution agrees, as a condition of its registration, to be bound by this section and that its registration may be rejected, conditioned, or revoked for failure to comply with this section, as provided by subdivision (b). The agreement shall be signed by a responsible officer of the institution.
(3) An institution that is registered with the bureau and enrolls a student residing in California shall report in writing to the bureau, within 30 days, the occurrence of any of the following:
(A) The institution has its authorization or approval revoked or suspended by a state or by the federal government, or has been subject to an enforcement action by a state or by the federal government that resulted in the imposition of limits on enrollment or student aid.
(B) The institution or a controlling officer of, or a controlling interest or controlling investor in, the institution or in the parent entity of the institution is subject to any education, consumer protection, unfair business practice, fraud, or related enforcement action by a state or federal agency. If so, the institution shall provide the bureau a copy of the operative complaint.
(C) The institution is currently on probation, show cause, or subject to other adverse action, or the equivalent thereof, by its accreditor or the accreditation of the institution is revoked or suspended.
(D) The institution settles, or is adjudged to have liability for, a civil complaint alleging the institution’s failure to provide educational services, including a complaint alleging a violation of Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-318) or a similar state law, or a complaint alleging a violation of a law concerning consumer protection, unfair business practice, or fraud, filed by a student or former student, an employee or former employee, or a public official, for more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). The institution shall provide to the bureau a copy of the complaint filed by the plaintiff and a copy of the judgment or settlement agreement for any such judgment or settlement, and the bureau shall consider, pursuant to subdivision (b), all material terms and aspects of the settlement, including, for example, whether a student plaintiff remained enrolled or reenrolled at the institution.
(4) The requirements of the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, established in Article 14 (commencing with Section 94923), and regulations adopted by the bureau related to the fund, for its students residing in California.
(5) The institution shall provide disclosures pursuant to the requirements for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, established in Article 14 (commencing with Section 94923), and regulations adopted by the bureau related to the fund, for its students residing in California.
(b) (1) Upon receipt of any of the notifications in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the bureau shall, within 30 days of receiving the notice, request the institution to explain in writing why the institution should be permitted to continue to enroll California residents. If the bureau, after reviewing the information submitted in response to the request and after consultation with the Attorney General, issues a written finding that there is no immediate risk to California residents from the institution continuing to enroll new students, the institution shall be permitted, pending completion of a review by the bureau, to continue to enroll new students or the bureau may, in its discretion, limit enrollments.
(2) Any institution under review pursuant to paragraph (1) may have its registration revoked by the bureau if, after further review, the bureau issues a written finding that there is a substantial risk posed to California residents by the institution continuing to enroll California residents.
(3) An institution shall have the right to reasonable notice and opportunity to comment to and before the bureau regarding any determination to revoke registration or to limit enrollment before that determination becomes final. An institution may seek review of a bureau order limiting new student enrollment or revoking registration under this subdivision through an action brought pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as preventing the bureau from revoking an institution’s registration on any other grounds specified in this chapter. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting or impairing the ability of an institution registered pursuant to this section or eligible to register pursuant to this section from applying to be an approved institution pursuant to this chapter.
(c) This section does not apply to a higher education institution that grants undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that is either formed as a nonprofit corporation and is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or is a public institution of higher education.
(d) An institution described in subdivision (a) that fails to comply with this section is not authorized to operate in this state. Any institution whose registration is denied or revoked is authorized to reapply for registration after 12 months have elapsed from the date of the denial or revocation of registration.
(e) A registration with the bureau pursuant to this section shall be valid for five years.
(f) The bureau shall develop through emergency regulations effective on and after July 1, 2021, a registration form. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code. These emergency regulations shall become law through the regular rulemaking process by January 1, 2022.
(g) The bureau shall disclose on its internet website a list of institutions registered pursuant to this section through reasonable means and disclose a designated email address for California residents to send a complaint to the bureau about an institution registered pursuant to this section. Complaints received through this email address shall be investigated in the same manner as complaints received by the bureau for institutions approved to operate pursuant to this chapter, but bureau enforcement in response to such complaints against institutions registered pursuant to this section shall be governed by subdivision (b).
(h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2022.

SEC. 3.

 Section 94850.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:

94850.2.
 “Nonprofit corporation” means an institution to which contributions have been determined by the United States Internal Revenue Service to be tax-deductible pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to the limitations described in Section 94874.1.

SEC. 4.

 Section 94858.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

94858.5.
 “Public institution of higher education” means any of the following:
(a) An institution that meets the definition of subdivision (a) of Section 66010, including a district or campus of the California Community Colleges.
(b) An institution operated by the United States government, a state, as defined in Section 3306(j)(1) of Title 26 of the United States Code, a local government, as defined in Section 1393(a)(5) of Title 26 of the United States Code, or Indian tribal government, as defined in Section 7701(a)(40) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(c) An institution that is an instrumentality of a state or local government if it meets all of the following:
(1) The institution’s employees are government employees.
(2) The institution’s liabilities are payable to the same degree as if they were liabilities of the state or local government, in the state or local government jurisdiction where the institution is formed.
(3) The institution is subject to the same financial oversight and open public records laws as the state or local government, in the state or local government jurisdiction where the institution is formed.

SEC. 5.

 Section 94874.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:

94874.1.
 (a) The bureau shall not verify the exemption from this chapter of, or contract for the complaint handling for, a nonprofit institution that operated as a for-profit institution during any period on or after January 1, 2010, unless the Attorney General verifies all of the following:
(1) The nonprofit institution acquired the for-profit institution’s assets for no more than the fair value of the assets.
(2) The nonprofit institution has not executed agreements for goods or services exceeding the fair value of the goods or services.
(3) All core functions of the nonprofit institution are conducted by, or under the direction of, the nonprofit institution.
(4) The nonprofit institution has not entered into any contracts, loans, or leases with a term of longer than three years with the former for-profit institution’s owners and managers. This paragraph does not apply to a nonprofit institution that previously operated as a for-profit institution that is owned by or controlled by a public institution of higher learning.
(b) An action under subdivision (a) may be appealed to the superior court.
(c) “Fair value” shall be demonstrated through one of the following:
(1) A third-party appraisal based on comparable assets acquired by, or goods or services procured by, nonprofit corporations in similar market conditions.
(2) Independent financing of the acquisition or procurement based upon the asset acquired or goods or services procured.
(3) Full and open competition in the acquisition of the assets or procurement of the goods or services.
(d) Within 90 days of the receipt of all information the Attorney General has determined is necessary for its verification pursuant to subdivision (a), the Attorney General shall notify the institution and the bureau in writing of the Attorney General’s verification pursuant to subdivision (a).
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2022.

SEC. 6.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
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