An Act To Ensure the Integrity of For-profit Colleges
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1404
Committee Amendment CA_A_S204 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 482, L.D. 1404, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure the Integrity of For-profit Colleges" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Ensure Integrity of For-profit Colleges and Universities' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §10706-A in the first line (page 1, line 3 in L.D.) by 
inserting after the following: "college" the following: 'or university' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 1 in paragraph C in 
subparagraph (4) in the first line (page 1, line 14 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
"college" the following: 'or university' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 1 in paragraph D in 
subparagraph ( 1) in the 2nd line (page 1, line 18 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
"college" the following: 'or university' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 1 in paragraph E in the first 
line (page 1, line 29 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "college" the following: 'or 
university' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 1 by inserting after paragraph 
F the following: 
'G. "Regional accreditation" means a formal status granted by a regional accrediting 
agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education to an institution 
meeting or exceeding the educational quality criteria as stated in the regional 
accrediting agency's publication in order to assess and enhance the educational 
0 
quality of an institution, ensure consistency in institutional operations, promote 
institutional improvement and provide for public accountability.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §10706-A in subsection 2 in the first line (page 1, line 
in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "college" the following: 'or university' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT"/J... "to S.P. 482, L.D. 1404 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 2 in paragraph A in the 2nd 
line (page 2, line 4 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "college" the following: 'or 
university' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 2 in paragraph C in the 2nd 
line (page 2, line 11 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "employed; and" and inserting 
the following: 'employed;' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 2 in paragraph D in 
subparagraph (2) in the last line (page 2, line 18 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
"service." and inserting the following: 'service; and' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A in subsection 2 by inserting after paragraph 
D the following: 
'E. The design and implementation of student suppott services, including the process 
by which student complaints are handled in a timely and effective manner and 
information on the number and nature of complaints received and the responses to 
those complaints.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 10706-A by striking out all of subsection 3 (page 2, 
lines 19 to 32 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'3. Evaluation. The state board shall by rule establish metrics to determine adequate 
educational standards that must be met by for-profit colleges and universities. 
The 
metrics must include at least the following evaluation criteria. 
A. The state board shall evaluate spending priorities by using information supplied 
pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph A. If the state board finds a for-profit college or 
university spends less than 50% of its total spending on instruction or more than 15% 
of its total spending on advertising, the state board must find that the for-profit 
college or university fails to meet adequate educational standards. 
B. The state board shall determine whether a for-profit college or university has 
received necessary regional accreditations to allow graduates to meet professional 
licensing or other career standards related to the educational programs for which 
degrees or certificates are granted by the for-profit college or university. If the state 
board finds a for-profit college or university has not received the necessary regional 
accreditations, the state board must find that the for-profit college or university fails 
to meet adequate educational standards. 
C. The state board shall evaluate the design and implementation of student support 
services, including whether the complaint process by which student complaints are 
handled is transparent, includes an appropriate official to receive complaints and 
provides appropriate and timely responses to complaints. If the state board finds that 
a for-profit college or university does not have adequate or appropriate student 
support services, the board may find that the for-profit college or university fails to 
meet adequate educational standards.' 
Amend the bill in section I in § I 0706-A in subsection 5 in the 3rd line (page 2, line 
in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "college" the following: 'or university' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 482, L.D. 1404 
Amend the bill in section 2 in § 10712 by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 3, lines 
to 21 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'5. Failure of certain institutions to meet adequate educational standards. The 
educational institution has failed to meet adequate educational standards under section 
10706-A.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following clarifications and changes to the bill. 
1. It clarifies that the bill applies to for-profit colleges and universities. 
2. 
It clarifies that the required accreditation requirements for-profit colleges and 
universities must satisfy are regional accreditations. 
3. It adds a requirement that student support services, including the process by which 
student complaints are handled, be reviewed as part of the evaluation by the State Board 
of Education to determine whether adequate educational standards are being met by a for-
profit college or university. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/22/17 ;lk:rac:.. 
LD 1404 
LR 1017(02) 
An Act To Ensure the Integrity of For-profit Colleges 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A"(<; -~oy) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the State Board of Education associated with the rulemaking process can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LRlOl 7(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1