HB 1129 Summary

• Creates chapter 15-18.1 establishing state board of higher education authority to authorize private postsecondary educational institutions offering associate in arts level or higher credentials.

• Transfers regulation of private postsecondary career schools from state board of higher education to state board for career and technical education, capping instruction at associate of applied science level.

• Criminalizes issuing, manufacturing, or using false academic degrees as class C felony; makes knowing use of false degrees to obtain employment or admission a class A misdemeanor.

• Prohibits operating accreditation mills (unrecognized accrediting entities) in North Dakota as class C felony offense.

• Requires student tuition refunds on sliding scale based on completion percentage and provides treble damages for students defrauded by institutional advertisements.