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History
- Print number 1721a
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the granting of higher education degrees by authorized institutions; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Joseph Morelle
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1721A
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the university of the state of New York; and to repeal section 224 of such law relating thereto
Purpose
To protect citizens of this state from people holding inadequate or fraudulently obtained college degrees as well as protecting potential students from substandard institutions.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Defines this act as "The Integrity of Higher Education Degrees, and Education Consumer Protection Act of 2012."
Section 2. Repeals section 224 of the education law and creates a new section 224 of the education law establishing criteria for the authorization of colleges and universities to confer and advertise degrees as well as prohibiting fraud in the claiming of a college or university degree.
Section 3. Requires the state education department to create a list, available on the internet, of colleges and universities that are authorized to confer or advertise a degree, as well as a list of those institutions that are known to the department and not authorized to advertise or confer a degree in this state, and whose degrees are not valid in this state.
Justification
Not every college offering a degree is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. This accreditation represents a kind of minimum standard of quality and integrity. Some colleges that are not accredited will issue college degrees without requiring any work on the part of the student. Credits and degrees earned at these unaccredited schools generally are not accepted by other schools or professional licensing boards.
The rise of diploma mills taking advantage of New York State residents has become an increasing problem. Hundreds of unaccredited colleges operate in the United States today, with a wide range of quality. Some are legitimate, but many are fraudulent. It has been estimated that these fraudulent institutions earn over two million dollars each year. This legislation is necessary in order to protect citizens of this state from people holding inadequate or fraudulently obtained college degrees as well as protecting potential students from substandard institutions.
Legislative history
2009-10: S.1768 2007-08: S.3902 2005-06: S.3300
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.