HB1650 Summary

• Transfers the State Board of Private Career Education to the Department of Higher Education through a type 2 transfer, consolidating all authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, and appropriations.

• Shifts regulatory authority from the board to the Director of the Department of Higher Education while maintaining the board as a seven-member advisory body appointed by the Governor with three members from schools and four from the general public.

• Amends numerous Arkansas Code sections to replace references to the State Board of Private Career Education with the Department of Higher Education throughout regulations for school licensing, admissions representatives, fees, bonds, and student protections.

• Maintains the Private Career School Student Protection Trust Fund and Private Career Education Fund with the department responsible for setting fees in consultation with the board.

• Declares an emergency to provide more efficient regulation of private career education and consumer protection services, making the act effective upon Governor's approval.