SB 18-260

Senate Bill 18-260, now signed into law, introduces a new process called "sunrise review" for private occupational schools in Colorado. This process requires the board overseeing these schools and the department of higher education to evaluate any new educational credentials or services before deciding if they need regulation under existing laws. The evaluation includes gathering input from stakeholders to determine potential risks to students and citizens if these new offerings are not regulated. Based on this review, the state legislature can then decide whether to require oversight for these new programs. This affects private occupational schools planning to introduce new educational credentials or services in Colorado. Since the bill is signed, it means that the process has been officially established and will now be implemented by the relevant authorities.

Official Summary

The bill requires the private occupational school board (board), with the assistance of the private occupational school division within the department of higher education (division), to promulgate rules creating a sunrise review process. The sunrise review process applies to new educational credentials and new educational services, as defined in the bill, for which the board has not previously granted or denied a certificate of approval prior to a date set forth in the bill. The purpose of the sunrise review is to determine whether the new educational credentials or new educational services should be regulated by the board and division pursuant to the provisions of the 'Private Occupational Education Act of 1981' (Act). Until the sunrise review process is completed, the board and division shall not exercise the powers and duties under the Act with respect to the new educational credential or new educational service. The bill requires the board to receive, investigate, and evaluate information, including stakeholder input, to determine, in part, whether students or citizens will be harmed if the new educational credentials or new educational services are not subject to the provisions of the Act. The board shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations to participants in the process, as well as to the general assembly. Based on the recommendations in the report, the general assembly may enact legislation that requires the board and division to regulate the new educational credentials or new educational services under the Act. The bill permits the board to submit an amended sunrise review report to the general assembly if a change of circumstances occurs after the board's submission of the initial report to the general assembly. Nothing in the bill limits the board's or division's powers and duties under the Act with respect to educational credentials or educational services that are not subject to the sunrise review process. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Votes