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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the coordinated dissemination of online information |
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regarding the operation and performance of certain for-profit |
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educational entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0778 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0778. ONLINE INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN |
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FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES. (a) In this section, |
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"commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission. |
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(b) The board and commission jointly shall develop a |
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comprehensive strategy to improve and coordinate the dissemination |
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of online information regarding the operation and performance of |
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for-profit private postsecondary educational institutions and |
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for-profit career schools or colleges in this state. As part of the |
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comprehensive strategy, the board and the commission shall compile, |
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share, and compare any applicable information under the control of |
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each agency and shall organize that information as nearly as |
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possible according to the categories of information required for |
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the online resumes of general academic teaching institutions under |
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Section 51A.103. |
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(c) For each for-profit private postsecondary educational |
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institution or for-profit career school or college that the board |
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or commission identifies as doing business in this state, the board |
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and commission shall each publish on the agency's Internet website |
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any information described by Subsection (b) that the board and |
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commission jointly determine would assist a person in deciding |
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whether to enroll in the institution, school, or college or in |
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identifying or choosing which institution, school, or college to |
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attend. The websites must: |
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(1) present information regarding those institutions, |
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schools, and colleges in a manner that is: |
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(A) to the extent practicable, consistent among |
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the institutions, schools, and colleges; and |
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(B) easily accessible and readily understandable |
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to the public; and |
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(2) allow for interactive online reporting of |
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complaints from the public about a specific institution, school, or |
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college. |
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(d) The board and commission shall each refer any complaint |
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the agency receives under Subsection (c)(2) regarding the operation |
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and performance of a for-profit private postsecondary educational |
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institution or for-profit career school or college to the consumer |
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protection division of the attorney general's office for timely |
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investigation and resolution of the complaint. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |