SECTIONS 94948-94949 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 94948-94949

94948.

94949. (a) On or before October 1, 2013, the Legislative Analyst's
Office shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the
appropriateness of the exemptions provided in this chapter, with
particular attention to the exemptions provided by Article 4
(commencing with Section 94874) that are based on accreditation. The
report shall examine and make recommendations regarding the degree to
which regional and national accrediting agencies provide oversight
of institutions and protection of student interests, whether that
oversight results in the same level of protection of students as
provided by this chapter, and whether the exemptions provided in
Article 4 (commencing with Section 94874) that are based on
accreditation should be continued, adjusted, or removed.
(b) (1) On or before August 1, 2013, the bureau shall contract
with the Bureau of State Audits to conduct a performance audit to
evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the bureau's operations,
consistent with the requirements of this chapter, and the Bureau of
State Audits shall report the results of that audit to the
Legislature and the Governor.
(2) The performance audit required by paragraph (1) shall include,
but shall not be limited to, an evaluation of all of the following:
(A) The Student Tuition Recovery Fund, including the adequacy of
its balance; the quality, timeliness, and consistency of claims
processing; and the degree to which it has been, or will be, able to
reimburse tuition for students.
(B) The bureau's enforcement program, including the means by which
the bureau makes students and school employees aware of their
ability to file complaints; the average time for investigating
complaints; the standards for referring complaints to investigation;
the average time to complete investigations; the adequacy of the
bureau's inspections; the bureau's record of imposing discipline; the
bureau's record of initiating investigations based upon publicly
available information; the bureau's record of coordinating with law
enforcement and public prosecutors; and whether the bureau has the
enforcement resources necessary to protect consumers and ensure a
fair and prompt resolution of complaints and investigations for both
students and institutions.
(C) The bureau's efforts with respect to, and extent of
institution compliance with, the public and student disclosure
requirements of this chapter.
(D) Whether the bureau's staffing level and expertise are
sufficient to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
(c) Bureau staff and management shall cooperate with the
Legislative Analyst's Office and the Bureau of State Audits and shall
provide those agencies with access to data, case files, employees,
and information as those agencies may, in their discretion, require
for the purposes of this section.