SB 1247 Summary

• Extends the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 operation from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2017, providing two additional years of regulatory oversight of private postsecondary schools.

• Removes exemption for institutions approved for veterans financial aid programs (effective January 1, 2016) unless they are independent institutions of higher education, making them subject to bureau regulation.

• Requires unaccredited institutions offering degrees to obtain accreditation within five years or comply with specific accreditation plans and timelines, with provisional approval to operate only.

• Establishes new bureau requirements including training staff for complaint investigations, posting institutional disciplinary history online, creating a task force to review high-technology training programs, and setting application processing timelines of 30 days.

• Appropriates $130,000 for 2014-15 fiscal year to fund one attorney position and one analyst position to support the bureau and advisory committee.