Oklahoma SB 1009: Private schools; authorizing the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools to create an equivalency program. Effective date. Emergency.

Bill Text

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 56th Legislature (2018)

SENATE BILL 1009 By: Sparks

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to private schools; amending Section
4, Chapter 276, O.S.L. 2014 (70 O.S. Supp. 2017,
Section 21-102.1), which relates to duties of the
Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools;
authorizing the Board to establish certain
equivalency program; requiring licensed private
schools to adhere to certain program; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 4, Chapter 276, O.S.L.
2014 (70 O.S. Supp. 2017, Section 21-102.1), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 21-102.1. The Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational
Schools is authorized to:
1. Appoint and fix the compensation of a director who:
a. shall employ and fix the duties and compensation of
such clerical or other assistants as are reasonably
necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act,
and
b. may execute contracts on behalf of the Board;

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2. Promulgate rules to include but not be limited to the
implementation of minimum standards for the operation of private
schools and the application of a school, seminar or workshop for a
license of state authorization;
3. Approve or disapprove:
a. applications for state authorization,
b. other applications for licensing,
c. requests for exemption, and
d. requests for a definition exception;
4. Issue a private school license to document state
authorization or other licensing upon determination that such school
meets the standards fixed by the Board;
5. Prescribe, except as is otherwise provided by law and
subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, such
penalties as it may deem proper for the enforcement of this act, not
to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00);
6. Fix minimum standards for private schools, which shall
include standards for courses of instruction and training,
qualifications of instructors, financial stability, advertising
practices, and refund of tuition and fees paid by students for
courses of instruction or training not completed, and shall
promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the
implementation of such minimum standards for the operation of
private schools;

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7. Where possible, to regulate degrees offered by distance
education, make use of the State Regents for Higher Education's
interstate reciprocity agreements to create a more efficient and
cost-effective means of the regulation of private schools;
8. Create and maintain an equivalency program for courses
offered at private schools it licenses, to which licensed private
schools shall adhere to maintain licensure;
9. Make use of interstate reciprocity agreements that
reasonably satisfy the Board's minimum standards to approve state
authorization or other license application, if such agreements
become available for other programs the Board approves for state
authorization or other license;
9. 10. Require an entity to repay any fees charged to the Board
by a financial institution or the State Treasurer for a returned
check or other failed form of payment;
10. 11. Develop annual compliance training to emphasize
standards relating to the operation of a school and relicensing
processes, and require attendance by a representative of each
school, seminar, or workshop;
11. 12. Provide all licensing forms free of charge via one or
more electronic means, but shall charge for the pick up or mailing
of a hard-copy licensing application packet to a person requesting
information about private school licensing requirements;

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12. 13. Certify an electronic record or the printing of an
electronically stored record as an original, subject to approval by
the Oklahoma Archives and Records Commission and when in accordance
with the record retention and destruction policy of the Board;
13. 14. Collect or require the submission of data, including
but not limited to:
a. admissions,
b. certification scores or passage rates,
c. complaints or grievances,
d. enrollment,
e. funding,
f. graduation,
g. job longevity or retention,
h. job placement, and
i. other data, as necessary, to carry on the mission or
duties of the Board, or to assist in the state's
workforce development initiatives; and
14. 15. Carry out such other duties as necessary to provide
state authorization for private vocational schools, seminars, and
workshops and such other schools that make offerings of courses or
programs as permitted by this act.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2018.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency i