California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009: exemptions.

Senator Arreguín's proposal to amend California's Private Postsecondary Education Act creates a targeted exemption for certain historical nonprofit educational institutions from state regulatory requirements. The amendment specifically addresses institutions incorporated in California in 1877 that operated continuously as independent nonprofits until 2022 and subsequently merged with an accredited nonprofit postsecondary institution.

Under the proposed changes, qualifying institutions would be classified as independent institutions of higher education and gain exemption from the Act's regulatory framework. These institutions may enter into agreements with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to handle student complaints, maintaining a mechanism for oversight while reducing other regulatory obligations. The bureau's review of complaints would establish the institution's authority to offer degree and certificate programs under federal education regulations.

The measure adds to existing exemptions in state law, which currently cover institutions ranging from recreational programs and trade organizations to religious institutions and accredited law schools. Unlike other recent changes to postsecondary oversight, this amendment focuses exclusively on a narrow category of historical nonprofit institutions while preserving student protection mechanisms through complaint review procedures.