CT SB00026

Expands the definition of "private occupational school" to include postsecondary career schools, hospital-based occupational schools, and barbering or hairdressing programs effective July 1, 2016.

Requires evaluation teams to be appointed within 60 days of receiving a complete application for initial authorization and to submit authorization decisions within 120 days of appointing the evaluation team.

Allows the executive director to accept programmatic accreditation for hospital-based occupational schools and permits evaluation team members (except state employees) to receive compensation at the director's discretion.

Reduces the timeframe for schools to respond to noncompliance findings from 60 days to 30 days and increases the notice requirement for establishing additional classroom sites or branch schools from 30 to 60 days.

Establishes provisions for private occupational school closures, including authorization for the executive director to seize letters of credit and use funds from the student protection account to facilitate teach-outs and issue certificates of completion to students who have successfully completed their programs.