1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; amending certain institutional approval provisions;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.65, subdivision 7.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.65, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 7.Conditional approval. (a) The office may grant a school a one-year conditional 
1.7 	approval for a degree or use of a term in its name if doing so would be in the best interests 
1.8 	of currently enrolled students or prospective students. Conditional approval of a degree or 
1.9 	use of a term under this paragraph must not exceed a period of three years.
1.10 	(b) The office may grant new schools physically located in Minnesota and new programs 
1.11 	a one-year conditional approval for degrees or use of a term in its name to allow the school 
1.12 	the opportunity to apply for and receive accreditation as required in subdivision 1a. 
1.13 	Conditional approval of a school or program under this paragraph must not exceed a period 
1.14 	of five years. A new school or program granted conditional approval may be allowed to 
1.15 	continue in order to complete an accreditation process upon terms and conditions the office 
1.16 	determines.
1.17 	(c) The office may grant a registered school a one-year conditional approval for degrees 
1.18 	or use of a term in its name to allow the school the opportunity to apply for and receive 
1.19 	accreditation as required in subdivision 1a if the school's accrediting agency is no longer 
1.20 	recognized by the United States Department of Education for purposes of eligibility to 
1.21 	participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. The office must not grant conditional 
1.22 	approvals under this paragraph to a school for a period of more than five years.
2.1 	(d) The office may grant a registered school a one-year conditional approval for degrees 
2.2 	or use of a term in its name to allow the school to change to a different accrediting agency 
2.3 	recognized by the United States Department of Education for purposes of eligibility to 
2.4 	participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. The office must not grant conditional 
2.5 	approvals under this paragraph to a school for a period of more than five years.