Date: 05/02/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-164

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 12-164 to the Committee on ApproPASS



02:27 PM -- Senate Bill 12-164 - Concerning Private Postsecondary Institutions

Representative Massey and Representative Todd, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 12-164. Representative Massey noted that the bill modifies and clarifies the way in which the state regulates private institutions of higher education, including for-profit proprietary schools, non-profit schools, career and technical colleges, and seminaries and religious training institutions. He noted that the bill substitutes the term "religious training institutions" for "bible colleges" where the latter occurs in statute.

Representative Todd continued by saying that the bill clarifies that private colleges that enroll the majority of their students in baccalaureate or postgraduate degree programs are to be regulated by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE). She noted that private colleges that enroll the majority of students at the certificate or associate level are regulated by the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) within the DHE.

The following persons testified:

02:32 PM -- Dr. Matt Gianneschi, Deputy Director, DHE, testified in support of the bill. He provided background information on the Degree Authorization Act, explaining that, in 1981, the General Assembly broke the act into two sections of statute and created the DPOS. He said DPOS oversees more than 300 institutions in the state. Dr. Gianneschi said the bill is intended to modernize state law around private postsecondary institutions. Dr. Gianneschi continued his explanation of each section of the bill, and responded to committee questions as he progressed through his explanation.

03:10 PM -- Mr. Norman Blome, representing Alta Colleges, testified in support of the bill. He expressed concern with the language around exceptions to the surety requirements.

03:14 PM -- Mr. Jerry Sirbu, representing Platte College, testified in support of the bill. He said the current Degree Authorization Act protects neither students nor schools. He said the bill provides a structure that colleges will need to comply with, which is beneficial for the colleges and provides protection for consumers. He expressed particular support for provisions around surety and student complaints. He also stated that the bill fills a gap in current law regarding student records from closed schools and regarding institution reporting. Mr. Sirbu spoke to issues around fees and funding.

03:22 PM -- Mr. Greg Dorman, representing the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified in support of the bill.

03:29 PM -- Ms. Melanie Layton, representing the Apollo Group and the University of Phoenix, testified in support of the bill. She described the collaborative process in drafting the bill.
BILL:SB12-164
TIME: 03:31:12 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 12-164 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:Hullinghorst
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Beezley
No
Conti
Yes
Holbert
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Labuda
Yes
McCann
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Swerdfeger
Yes
DelGrosso
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS