This bill would authorize the board of trustees of each public institution of higher education to choose to pursue accreditation by any nationally recognized accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education. This bill would prohibit accrediting agencies from requiring a public institution of higher education to violate state law or from taking adverse action against an institution for its compliance with state law, except where the state law is preempted by federal law, and would require the board of trustees to report violations to the Legislature. This bill would authorize the board of trustees of any public institution of higher education to bring a civil action against an accrediting agency that violates this bill and to notify the Legislature of any violations. This bill would also make conforming changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-5-52, 16-5-54, 16-5-100, 16-33A-1, 16-33D-3, 16-5-1