Z-1365.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6371
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Bauer, Prince, Sheldon, Winsley and Drew
Read first time 01/20/94. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to degree-granting authority; amending RCW 28B.85.020 and 28B.85.040; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.85 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.85.020 and 1986 c 136 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The board:
(1) Shall adopt by rule minimum standards for degree-granting institutions concerning granting of degrees, quality of education, unfair business practices, financial stability, and other necessary measures to protect citizens of this state against substandard, fraudulent, or deceptive practices. The board shall adopt the rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW;
(2) May investigate any entity the board reasonably believes to be subject to the jurisdiction of this chapter. In connection with the investigation, the board may administer oaths and affirmations, issue subpoenas and compel attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, or other records which the board deems relevant or material to the investigation. The board, including its staff and any other authorized persons, may conduct site inspections and examine records of all institutions subject to this chapter;
(3) Shall develop an
interagency agreement with the ((commission for vocational education or its
successor agency)) work force training and education coordinating board
to regulate degree-granting private vocational schools with respect to degree
and nondegree programs.
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.85.040 and 1986 c 136 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) An institution or person shall not advertise, offer, sell, or award a degree or any other type of educational credential unless the student has enrolled in and successfully completed a prescribed program of study, as outlined in the institution's publications. This prohibition shall not apply to honorary credentials clearly designated as such on the front side of the diploma or certificate and awarded by institutions offering other educational credentials in compliance with state law.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, this chapter shall not apply to:
(a) Any public college, university, community college, technical college, or institute or other entity operating as part of the public higher educational system of this state.
(b) Institutions that have been accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the agency for the purposes of this chapter, provided that an institution, branch, extension, or facility operating within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of any such accrediting association to qualify for this exemption.
(c) Institutions of a religious character, but only as to those education programs devoted exclusively to religious or theological objectives if the programs are represented in an accurate manner in institutional catalogs and other official publications.
(d) Institutions not otherwise exempt which offer only workshops or seminars lasting no longer than three calendar days and for which academic credit is not awarded.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28B.85 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The board shall maintain and administer an account in the tuition recovery trust fund established under RCW 43.84.092 as a means to establish surety for any student of a degree-granting private vocational school's degree programs authorized under this chapter.
(2) The board shall, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, adopt rules to maintain and administer its account in the tuition recovery trust fund established under RCW 43.84.092.
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