THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FOLMER, PICCOLA, DINNIMAN, TOMLINSON, ERICKSON, McILHINNEY, BAKER, RAFFERTY, ORIE, GREENLEAF, EARLL, PIPPY, VANCE, YUDICHAK, LEACH, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, PILEGGI, YAW, BROWNE AND TARTAGLIONE, JANUARY 31, 2012

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, in private colleges, universities and seminaries,

further providing for certification of institutions.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 6503 of Title 24 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:

§ 6503.  Certification of institutions.

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(e.1)  Additional degrees, programs or majors.--Subject to

the authority of the State board to regulate teacher education

programs under section 2603-B of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, and

the authority of the department to regulate teacher education

programs under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 49 (relating to certification of

professional personnel), a private, nonprofit college or

university may offer an additional degree that is not specified

in a certificate received under subsection (a) or may institute

an additional major or program if either of the following

applies:

(1)  The college or university satisfies both of the

following:

(i)  The college or university has operated

continuously in this Commonwealth for the immediately

preceding ten years.

(ii)  The college or university is accredited by a

regional accrediting agency recognized by the United

States Department of Education.

(2)  The department approves the additional degree, major

or program pursuant to the procedure for issuing a

certificate provided in subsection (e).

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.