2. a. Within 12 months of the effective date of P.L.2022, c.76 (C. 18A:3B-45.1 et al.), the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish performance quality standards for:

(1) private career schools, referred to and defined as “qualifying schools” under section 4 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C. 34:15C-1), authorized jointly under section 13 of P.L.2005, c.354 (C. 34:15C-10.1) by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commissioner of Education to operate in New Jersey; and

(2) private career schools authorized by a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to offer an educational program required for licensure, registration, or certification in a profession or occupation regulated by a professional or occupational board established within the division.

b. In establishing the performance quality standards, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall consider the ratio of the tuition and fees charged to students in the program net of any institutional grant aid to the average earnings of New Jersey workers employed in the specific occupation for which the program prepares students.

(1) In the event that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development determines that a program offered by a private career school does not meet the minimum acceptable level of performance, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commissioner of Education shall, pursuant to section 13 of P.L.2005, c.354 (C. 34:15C-10.1), revoke, suspend or make conditional the certificate of approval issued under that law.

(2) In the event that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development determines that an educational program required for licensure, registration, or certification in a profession or occupation regulated by a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs does not meet the minimum acceptable level of performance, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall issue a written determination directing the applicable board within the Division of Consumer Affairs to suspend or revoke the private career school’s license or accreditation to offer such program.

c. All private career schools, including those operating with a certificate of approval issued jointly by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commissioner of Education, and those authorized by a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs to offer an educational program required for licensure, registration, or certification in a profession or occupation regulated by a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs, shall submit a quarterly report to the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development that includes:

(1) the tuition and fees charged for each program;

(2) a record for each student enrolled in each program. The student record shall include, but not be limited to: the student’s social security number, gender, date of birth, date of enrollment, any date of completion, date of termination, date of start in a job, date of application for a license, licensing examination result, date of issuance of a license, and any credential issued; and

(3) any additional information that may be required by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.

d. Each private career school may be required by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to submit additional reports on a more frequent basis.

(1) In the event that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development determines that a program offered by a private career school has failed to submit any report required under this section, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commissioner of Education shall, pursuant to section 13 of P.L.2005, c.354 (C. 34:15C-10.1), revoke, suspend or make conditional the certificate of approval issued under that law.

(2) In the event that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development determines that an educational program required for licensure, registration, or certification in a profession or occupation regulated by a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs has failed to submit any report required under this section, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall issue a written determination directing the applicable board within the division to suspend or revoke the private career school’s license or accreditation to offer such program.

e. Upon receiving the written determination from the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development directing the suspension or revocation of the private career school’s license or accreditation to offer a program, the applicable board within the Division of Consumer Affairs may delay the effective date of the suspension or revocation for a reasonable time if it determines that doing so is necessary for the applicable board, or the affected private career school at the direction of the applicable board, to protect the interests of students.

f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of a professional or occupational board established within the Division of Consumer Affairs to suspend or revoke the license or accreditation of a private career school pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

g. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education and the Attorney General, shall adopt, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

L.2022, c.76, s.2.