Bill > HB1279

This bill addresses postsecondary education consumer protections by strengthening oversight of online and distance learning educational institutions. The legislature finds that current state authorization reciprocity agreements (NC-SARA) do not adequately protect students, creating a two-tiered system of consumer protections that can incentivize institutions to locate in states with weaker student protection laws. The bill amends existing law to require the Student Achievement Council to maintain stricter standards for interstate education agreements, including ensuring that: consumer protections are not reduced, the council retains its investigative and enforcement powers, institutions maintain appropriate financial security bonds, and complaints from Washington students can be fully investigated regardless of where an institution is headquartered. Key provisions include mandating that by July 1, 2028, any interstate education agreements must preserve student consumer protections, allow full investigation of student complaints, maintain surety bond requirements, and ensure transparency about institutional investigations or status changes. The bill also expands the types of complaints that can be filed, requires institutions to prominently disclose students' rights, and prohibits misleading marketing practices. The overall goal is to protect students from potentially fraudulent or substandard educational practices, particularly in online and distance learning programs.