To prohibit the offering or granting a of false or misleading academic degree or other document that claims to confer a degree that is false or misleading. Any person or entity that willfully violates this prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation.   Official Text and Analysis.

To modify the bill. The original bill required that a violation of the provisions of the bill be done "knowingly" or "willfully" before a violation could be found and penalties imposed. The substitute bill removes the requirement that the violation be committed knowingly or willfully.

To define the term "foreign degree-granting institution" as used in this bill. H AMD 734.

To prohibit the offering or granting of a false or misleading academic degree or other document that claims to confer a degree that is false or misleading.

By the Senate Early Learning, K-12 and Higher Education Committee, to add the definition of "false academic credential" and the definition of "accredited" is removed. It is clarified that anyone who issues or uses a false academic credential is subject to the act. The civil offense language is removed and language to make it is an unfair or deceptive business practice and a crime of fraud for a person to grant or offer to grant a false academic credential, to represent that a false academic credit can be applied toward a credential offered by another person, or to solicit another person to seek or earn a false academic credential or credit. The venue for a deceptive business practice lawsuit involving false academic credentials would be in the county where an element of the offense occurred or in any other venue authorized by law. Additionally, it is a crime of fraud for a person to knowingly use a false academic credential or falsely claim to have a credential issued by an accredited and HECB recognized institution in a written or oral advertisement or promotion, or with the intent to obtain employment, a license, a certificate to practice, a promotion, compensation or other benefit, admission to an educational program in the state, or gain a position in government whether compensated in the position or not. Both issuing and knowingly using a false academic credential is a class C felony.

And the House refuses to concur in Senate amendments. The House asks the Senate to recede from amendments.

And the Senate recedes from amendments.

To change the penalty for knowingly using a false academic credential from a class C felony to a gross misdemeanor. S AMD 402. The amendment was withdrawn on 3/7/06.

To strike everything after the enacting clause and insert a new bill that makes knowingly issuing a false academic credential a gross misdemeanor. (The previous amendment passed by the Senate designated this as a class C felony.) S AMD 403.

To concur in Senate amendments, for final passage of the bill.

To prohibit the offering or granting of a false or misleading academic degree or other document that claims to confer a degree that is false or misleading.