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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3838
PRINTER'S NO. 3963
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2338
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY GABLER, BENNINGHOFF, SAYLOR, SANKEY, BOBACK,
CAUSER, COOK-ARTIS, CUTLER, DAY, DRISCOLL, DUSH, ELLIS, FEE,
GILLESPIE, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARHART, HARPER, HELM,
PHILLIPS-HILL, KNOWLES, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, McGINNIS, MENTZER,
B. MILLER, MILNE, NESBIT, O'NEILL, OBERLANDER, RAPP, REGAN,
SCHEMEL, SCHLOSSBERG, SIMMONS, SNYDER, STURLA, TAYLOR,
TOBASH, TOPPER, TURZAI, WARD, WENTLING, ZIMMERMAN, KLUNK,
JOZWIAK, MAHONEY, GINGRICH, ROEBUCK, ORTITAY, PETRI, CONKLIN
AND BARBIN, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
AN ACT
Providing for student protection during the transition of a
postsecondary education institution to new accreditation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Student
Protection Act.
Section 2. Student protections.
(a) General rule.--If the United States Department of
Education discontinues its recognition of a national accrediting
agency, the Commonwealth shall take all actions necessary to
ensure the following with respect to each student who attends
any of the Pennsylvania postsecondary education institutions
that are currently accredited by the national accrediting agency
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that loses Federal recognition:
(1) Such student will remain eligible for all State
financial assistance through the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency and any other State agency
through which such student may be eligible for assistance,
provided the student meets all other qualifications for the
financial assistance. WHEN ADVANCING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FUNDS DURING A SCHOOL'S TRANSITION TO NEW ACCREDITATION, THE
PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY MAY FOLLOW
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S ISSUANCE OF
FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER
TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLIED DURING THIS TRANSITION.
(2) Such student will remain eligible for State
licensure, certification or any other professional credential
for which the student has trained, provided the student meets
all other qualifications and passes any exams or assessments
necessary for such licensure, certification or credential.
(b) Transition of institutions to new accreditors.--The
Pennsylvania postsecondary education institutions that are
accredited by the national accrediting agency that loses Federal
recognition shall be provided a transition period of no less
than 18 months to receive new accreditation by another
accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of
Education. The student protections provided in subsection (a)
shall remain in effect for students attending these institutions
throughout this transition period. If a Pennsylvania
postsecondary education institution has not received new
accreditation by the end of this 18-month transition period, the
agencies of the Commonwealth may continue the student
protections provided in subsection (a) until new accreditation
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is received if the agency deems the extension of the protections
to be in the best interest of the students attending the
institution.
(C) STUDENT DISCLOSURES.--DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD TO
NEW ACCREDITATION, THE INSTITUTION SHALL PROVIDE A DISCLOSURE TO
THE RECIPIENTS OF ANY STATE AID PROVIDED FOR IN SUBSECTION (A)
(1). THIS DISCLOSURE SHALL PROVIDE THE STATUS OF THE
INSTITUTION'S APPLICATION FOR NEW ACCREDITATION. IT MAY ALSO
CONTAIN OTHER INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS.
SECTION 3. NOTICE.
THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY SHALL
PUBLISH GUIDANCE ON ITS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.
Section 3 4. Expiration.
This act shall expire December 31, 2018.
Section 4 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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