Amendment #12 to H4324

Certain Ceremonies and Services

Mr. Cusack of Braintree moves to amend the bill inserting after SECTION XX the following section:

Chapter 69, Section 31A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by the acts of 2009, is hereby amended by striking out Section 31A and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 31A. No educational institution chartered, located, offering courses, or otherwise doing business within the commonwealth, shall award degrees within the commonwealth unless authorized to do so by the commonwealth.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the ceremonial delivery at a graduation, commencement or similar event in the commonwealth of diplomas acknowledging degrees awarded outside the commonwealth by an educational institution formally recognized by a regional accrediting agency, recognized as such by the United States Secretary of Education; nor shall any educational institution chartered, incorporated or organized in another state conduct within the commonwealth any courses available to residents of the commonwealth leading to the award of a degree, unless such educational institution has received the approval of the commonwealth for such courses. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an educational institution that is formally recognized by a regional accrediting agency, recognized as such by the United States Secretary of Education, from providing to residents of the commonwealth administrative and financial counseling or other support services which are not course-specific.

The board of higher education shall be responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this section.