Vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations and procedures for private postsecondary educational institutions.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to establish regulations regarding recruitment, advertising, fees, student costs, facilities, financial aid, actions by employees, and other applicable areas to carry out the intent of the bill (Sec. 19). -Permits claims filed against private postsecondary educational institutions to be adjudicated based on the law that was in effect when the violations or events in question took place, even though those provisions of the law have expired (Sec. 19). -Requires each private postsecondary educational institution to provide specific information via its website, including information related to the approval status of the institution, the average class size, and the names of faculty members along with their qualifications for teaching (Sec. 19). -Requires each private postsecondary educational institution to provide specific information via its website, orally, and in writing to each student prior to enrollment, including information related to the percentage of students who completed programs, the percentage of students who obtained employment, the percentage of students who received salaries at or above the salaries that the institution claims may be available to graduates, the percentage of students who passed state examinations if required for employment, costs of attendance, the transferability of credits earned at the institution, and financial aid and loan obligations (Sec. 19). -Provides that students shall be able to cancel their agreements with private educational institutions within a specified amount of time that differs for degree and non-degree programs and receive a full reimbursement minus a deposit or application fee not to exceed $150 (Sec. 19). -Requires the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to create and maintain an accessible and searchable website that lists all of the approved postsecondary institutions in California, a summary of complaints filed against institutions, and a list of unapproved institutions (Sec. 19). -Prohibits private postsecondary education institutions from making misleading claims regarding job availability, length of time required to learn a trade, graduate job placement, or any other information (Sec. 19). -Exempts certain institutions from the regulations established by this bill, including institutions that offer courses solely for enjoyment, institutions that offer education only to members of a fraternity or club, or institutions that offer test preparation courses (Sec. 19).

Full Bill Text