Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, are amended to read:

2. Federal reservations. Offer programs or courses which that are conducted solely on a federal reservation over which the Federal Government has exclusive jurisdiction. The commissioner shall authorize exempt status under this subsection; and

3. Noncredit courses. Offer courses or programs which that are not for academic credit.; and

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Religious, nonpublic, educational institution.__Meet the following criteria.

A.__The educational institution must be substantially owned, operated or supported by a bona fide church or religious organization.

B.__The educational programs of the educational institution must be primarily designed for, aimed at and attended by persons who seek to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.

C.__The programs under paragraph B must be intended to prepare students to assume leadership positions in, or enter into some other vocation closely related to, the particular faith of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.

The exemption under this subsection does not apply to any educational institution that represents to any student or prospective student that the major purpose of its program is to prepare the student for a vocation not closely related to the particular religious faith of the educational institution or to provide the student with a__general educational program substantially equivalent to the educational programs offered by schools or departments or branches of schools that are not exempt from this section.

SUMMARY

This bill exempts certain religious, private, postsecondary institutions from State Board of Education licensure requirements.