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Bill to Let Career Schools Advertise Before Final Approval Wins MHEC Backing
Summary
Delegate Chris Fair and the Maryland Higher Education Commission backed HB 1138, which would allow qualifying private career schools to advertise with MHEC approval before receiving a final certificate of approval, subject to consumer protections.
Delegate Chris Fair told the committee HB 1138 would permit qualifying private career schools to request MHEC permission to begin advertising prior to their final certificate of approval — provided they have met market and facility readiness conditions and have explicit authorization from MHEC. The bill would prohibit schools that received pre-opening advertising approval from enrolling students or accepting tuition or payments until final approval.
Fair said the legislation would reduce financial barriers to opening schools that provide allied health, cosmetology, barbering, mechanics and other career-path programs by allowing them to recruit closer to opening dates rather than absorb months of operating costs without students. “The bill strikes the appropriate balance between robust student protections and regulatory reform,” Fair said, noting MHEC and the sponsor had agreed on an amendment.
Maryland Higher Education Commission staff testified that, with the sponsor’s amendment, MHEC had moved its written position from unfavorable to favorable. Committee members asked whether schools currently are barred from any marketing before final approval; MHEC and the sponsor explained the bill would codify an administrative practice and set clear consumer protections.
No formal vote was recorded in the hearing transcript; MHEC’s shift to favorable was highlighted by witnesses as an important endorsement.
