S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7769--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 20, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN, GOTTFRIED, REYES -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged,
bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to reporting and publish-
ing of certain financial statements and statistical reports received
by the commissioner of education
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 239-c
to read as follows:
§ 239-C. FOR-PROFIT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS; ENHANCED REPORTING.
1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE TERM "FOR-PROFIT INSTITU-
TION OF HIGHER EDUCATION" MEANS ANY LICENSED PRIVATE CAREER SCHOOL,
CERTIFIED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SCHOOL, OR ONLINE EDUCATION
MARKETPLACE AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, OR
COLLEGE THAT:
(A) PROVIDES A PROGRAM LEADING TO AN ASSOCIATES OR BACCALAUREATE
DEGREE;
(B) IS LEGALLY AUTHORIZED IN NEW YORK STATE TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM OF
EDUCATION BEYOND SECONDARY EDUCATION; AND
(C) IS NEITHER A PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT INSTITUTION.
2. THE NYS PROPRIETARY INSTITUTION DISCLOSURE WEBSITE. (A) THE COMMIS-
SIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE FOR THE DISSEM-
INATION OF DATA AND DISCLOSURES RELATED TO FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION. THE WEBSITE AT A MINIMUM SHALL PUBLISH:
(I) A LISTING OF EACH FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN
THE STATE. SUCH LISTING OF EACH FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCA-
TION SHALL DISPLAY INFORMATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
FOLLOWING:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11661-07-9
A. 7769--A 2
(1) ALL APPROVED LOCATIONS OF THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION;
(2) LISTING OF ALL DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OF THE FOR-PROFIT
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPART-
MENT;
(3) BASIC INFORMATION OF THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCA-
TION SUCH AS THE YEAR FOUNDED AND ANY ACCREDITATIONS HELD;
(4) WHETHER THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS AN
APPROVED STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT INSTITUTION AND, IF
SO, THE INSTITUTION'S MEMBERSHIP STATUS;
(5) WHETHER THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS ELIGIBLE
TO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERAL TITLE IV PROGRAMS;
(6) WHETHER THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION PARTIC-
IPATES IN ANY STATE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ENHANCED TUITION AWARDS PROGRAM, OR A
PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THIS CHAP-
TER.
(II) FORMS AND/OR LINKS TO THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION'S COMPLAINT PROCESS AND INSTRUCTIONS OR LINKS TO INSTRUCTIONS
DETAILING HOW STUDENTS CAN FORMALLY MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THEIR
PROGRAM TO BOTH THEIR SCHOOL AND LATER, IF NECESSARY, TO THE DEPARTMENT;
(III) ANY REPORTS PRODUCED REGARDING COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVES-
TIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND NOTICE OF ANY ADVERSE ACTIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION PROGRAM DUE TO A FINDING OF A VIOLATION;
(IV) AN ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR FORMER STUDENTS OF CLOSED FOR-PROFIT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO FORMALLY REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT
THEIR STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS OR OTHER RECORDS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED
AND DIGITALLY STORED BY THE DEPARTMENT;
(V) DATA TRACKING THE ANNUAL ENROLLMENT AT FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION; AND
(VI) OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN REQUIRED BY ANOTHER PROVISION
OF LAW TO POST ON A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE AS A PART OF EACH FOR-PROFIT
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION LISTING INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE ANNU-
AL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF EACH INSTITUTION. THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL DISPLAY IN A WAY EASY TO UNDERSTAND BY THE PUBLIC A VISUAL REPRE-
SENTATION PORTRAYING THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITU-
TION. THE DEPARTMENT IN CONSTRUCTING THIS FINANCIAL REPRESENTATION SHALL
CONSULT WITH MEMBERS OF THE FOR-PROFIT SECTOR TO DEVELOP A CLEAR WAY TO
ACCURATELY DISPLAY RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT IS PART OF THE FOR-PROFIT
INSTITUTION'S ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AT MINIMUM, THE VISU-
AL REPRESENTATION SHOULD CONSIDER FINANCES SPENT ON STUDENT SERVICES,
RENT AND UPKEEP, PAYMENT OF PROFESSORS AND STAFF, AND THE AMOUNT SPENT
ON ADVERTISING, AND THE FEDERAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMPOSITE SCORE
OF THE INSTITUTION.
(C) ALL ACTIONS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AN ACCREDITOR, ANOTHER
STATE, OR COUNTRY TAKEN AGAINST A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION MUST BE LISTED IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS WAY ON EACH FOR-PRO-
FIT INSTITUTION'S LISTING.
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD UPDATE THE WEBSITE LISTING FOR EACH PROPRIE-
TARY INSTITUTION WITH ANY CHANGES AS SUCH INFORMATION IS RECEIVED AND AT
A MINIMUM SHALL UPDATE ANNUALLY EACH PROPRIETARY INSTITUTION'S LISTING
FOR ACCURACY.
A. 7769--A 3
(E) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ANY NECESSARY REGULATIONS FOR
THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING A FULL ACCOUNT OF ALL
THE METRICS THAT THE COMMISSIONER SHALL UTILIZE FOR THE VISUAL REPRESEN-
TATION PORTRAYING A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION'S FINANCIAL VIABILITY. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL ALSO PROVIDE A PROCESS SO THAT FOR-PROFIT INSTI-
TUTIONS MAY, IF NEEDED, CHALLENGE WHAT IS LISTED FOR THEIR INSTITUTION.
AT NO TIME DURING A CHALLENGE SHOULD A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION'S LISTING
ON THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE BE COMPLETELY REMOVED.
3. RAPID ENROLLMENT INCREASES OR DECREASES AT FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (A) IF A PROGRAM AT A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT HAS AN
INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT EQUAL TO OR MORE THAN FIFTEEN PERCENT ON A YEAR-
TO-YEAR BASIS SUCH ENROLLMENT INCREASE SHALL CAUSE THE DEPARTMENT TO
REVIEW THE PROGRAM WITHIN THIRTY BUSINESS DAYS. THE REVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT AN INSTITUTION IS
STILL PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION AND IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE
LAW AND DEPARTMENTAL REGULATIONS. IF AN INSTITUTION IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE
THEN THE COMMISSIONER IS EMPOWERED TO TAKE STEPS TO REMEDIATE THE ISSUES
AND SHALL FLAG ANY ISSUES DISCOVERED ON THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
(B) IF A PROGRAM AT FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT
HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT HAS A DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT EQUAL
TO OR MORE THAN FIFTEEN PERCENT ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS SUCH ENROLLMENT
DECREASE SHALL CAUSE THE DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM WITHIN THIRTY
BUSINESS DAYS. THE REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL ENSURE THAT AN INSTITUTION IS STILL PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION
AND IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AND DEPARTMENTAL REGULATIONS.
IF AN INSTITUTION IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE THEN THE DEPARTMENT IS EMPOWERED
TO TAKE STEPS TO REMEDIATE THE ISSUES AND SHALL FLAG ANY ISSUES DISCOV-
ERED ON THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF
THIS SECTION.
(C) FOR VIOLATIONS DISCOVERED BECAUSE OF REVIEWS TAKEN BY THE DEPART-
MENT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
COMMISSIONER DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INFRACTION SHALL HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO
OPERATE UNDER ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE FOLLOWING:
(I) REQUIRING THE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO ENACT
A REMEDIATION PLAN WITH PERIODIC REPORTING;
(II) LIMITING NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT INTO IMPACTED PROGRAMS AT THE
FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN QUESTION; OR
(III) INSTITUTING A MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW PROGRAMS OR DEGREES OR
CERTIFICATES THAT CAN BE ISSUED BY A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
(D) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING
THE MANNER IN WHICH ENROLLMENT SHALL BE TRACKED BY THE DEPARTMENT USING
EXISTING INCOMING DATA.
(E) NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL LIMIT ANY OPTIONS FOR SUCH ADDI-
TIONAL ENFORCEMENT MEASURES THAT THE COMMISSIONER MAY HAVE BY ANY OTHER
LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.