SB159 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rusty Glover

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Colleges and universities, out-of-state institutions, online programs offered in this state, exempt from regulation by the Ala. Comm. on Higher Education and Postsecondary Education. Dept. under certain conditions, State Reciprocity Committee created, Secs. 16-5-10, 16-46-3 am'd.

Summary

SB159 creates a State Reciprocity Committee to manage interstate higher-education reciprocity and clarifies exemptions for regional accrediting authorities and out-of-state online programs.

What This Bill Does

It creates the State Reciprocity Committee and a state coordinator to negotiate and oversee reciprocity agreements with other states and to coordinate Alabama's compliance. It clarifies that out-of-state online programs may be exempt from Alabama state approval if they are regionally accredited and located in states participating in reciprocity agreements approved by the Governor or the Alabama Commission on Higher Education; otherwise, non-Alabama programs may be reviewed with fees up to $15,000 per institution. It sets up a portal agency to manage SARA and reciprocity communications, collect fees to fund the portal, and evaluate the effectiveness of reciprocity every five years, with the option to withdraw from agreements that are not in Alabama's best interests.

Who It Affects

• Out-of-state online program providers that are regionally accredited and located in states participating in Alabama-approved reciprocity agreements may operate in Alabama without full state approval.
• Alabama students and higher education institutions will have greater access to online programs through reciprocity, with state oversight provided by the new committee and portal, and funding via SARA-related fees.

Key Provisions

• Creates the State Reciprocity Committee with specified members (Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, President of Auburn University, President of the University of South Alabama, Chancellor of the Department of Postsecondary Education, and a Governor-appointed president of a historically black college or university).
• Appoints a state coordinator to negotiate reciprocal agreements, coordinate Alabama's compliance, and inform the committee of developments; coordinator cannot bind the state to agreements.
• The committee appoints a portal agency to serve as the contact point for SARA and reciprocity questions; portal agency provides quarterly reports to the coordinator and committee.
• Establishes a five-year evaluation cycle for SARA and reciprocity agreements and allows recommendations to withdraw from agreements if they are not in Alabama's best interests.
• Requires annual, limited-fee participation for Alabama SARA institutions, capped at National Council for SARA fees; funds go into a dedicated Reciprocity Fund in the State Treasury for the portal agency.
• Expands exemptions for private postsecondary institutions, including exemption from state approval for out-of-state online programs that are regionally accredited and located in states in reciprocity agreements approved by the Governor/ACHE; other exemptions are preserved or clarified.
• Non-Alabama institutions not exempted from state approval may still be subject to programmatic review with fees not exceeding $15,000 per institution.
• The act becomes effective immediately upon approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education