Bill Text: HI HR80 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Unaccredited Universities and Colleges

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-28 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on LMG as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Belatti, Ito, C. Lee, Tokioka excused (4). [HR80 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HR80-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	80
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF UNACCREDITED DEGREE GRANTING INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that obtaining a college degree can cost tens of thousands of dollars and often represents a significant commitment of a family’s financial resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education relies on, among other things, an institution’s accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency to determine eligibility for certain federal funds; and

 

     WHEREAS, many employers require a degree from an accredited educational institution as a condition of employment; and

 

     WHEREAS, many educational institutions will not recognize a student’s degree or credits unless the degree or credits were earned through an accredited institution; and

 

     WHEREAS, prospective students may be unaware of the significance of an institution's accreditation status when selecting a college or university, particularly if the institution offers a degree through distance education; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is one of a small number of states that does not license, approve, or prohibit unaccredited degree-granting institutions; and

 

     WHEREAS, unaccredited degree granting universities and colleges that operate in the State are currently governed by Chapter 446E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which imposes minimal requirements on such institutions; and
     WHEREAS, the Office of Consumer Protection has been active in enforcing Chapter 446E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, through the filing of numerous lawsuits; and

 

     WHEREAS, House Bill No. 1200, H.D. 2 (2013), proposed, among other things, to revise the state unaccredited degree granting institution law, Chapter 446E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by transferring oversight to the Post-secondary Education Commission; and

 

     WHEREAS, section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Auditor to review proposals to regulate professions, vocations, or occupations that are currently unregulated and to assess alternative forms of regulation; and

 

     WHEREAS, although unaccredited degree granting institutions may not be traditionally considered a profession or vocation, a sunrise analysis pursuant to Chapter 26H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may be useful in evaluating current and alternative forms of regulation; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Office of the Auditor is respectfully requested to conduct a sunrise review of the regulation of unaccredited degree granting institutions, including an assessment of current and alternative forms of regulation, pursuant to section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor is requested to include in its review:

 

(1)  An estimate of the number of unaccredited degree granting institutions currently operating under Chapter 446E, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

(2)  An estimate of the number of unaccredited degree granting institutions physically located in the State;

 

(3)  An estimate of the number of students enrolled in each unaccredited degree granting institution;

(4)  A review of the level of compliance by unaccredited degree granting institutions with Chapter 446E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including a review of the number and types of enforcement actions brought by the Office of Consumer Protection;

 

(5)  A review of the laws governing unaccredited degree granting institutions in other states, including those state laws that require all degree granting institutions to be accredited;

 

(6)  A review of best practices available for the regulation of unaccredited degree granting institutions;

 

(7)  A determination of whether regulation of unaccredited degree granting institutions should also apply to online unaccredited degree granting institutions regardless of whether the institutions are:

 

(A)  Located in Hawaii; or

 

(B)  Located out-of-state, but enroll students who are Hawaii residents; and

 

(8)  An examination of findings in the 1993 report of the Legislative Reference Bureau, entitled Private Accreditation and State Authorization of Degree Granting and Non-Degree Granting Limitations in Hawaii, to determine whether the recommendations in the report were carried out; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Auditor and the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Report Title: 

Unaccredited Universities and Colleges