Section 94949.

(a) On or before October 1, 2013, the Legislative Analyst's Office shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the appropriateness of the exemptions provided in this chapter, with particular attention to the exemptions provided by Article 4 (commencing with Section 94874) that are based on accreditation. The report shall examine and make recommendations regarding the degree to which regional and national accrediting agencies provide oversight of institutions and protection of student interests, whether that oversight results in the same level of protection of students as provided by this chapter, and whether the exemptions provided in Article 4 (commencing with Section 94874) that are based on accreditation should be continued, adjusted, or removed.

(b) (1) On or before August 1, 2013, the bureau shall contract with the California State Auditor's Office to conduct a performance audit to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the bureau's operations, consistent with the requirements of this chapter, and the California State Auditor's Office shall report the results of that audit to the Legislature and the Governor.

(2) The performance audit required by paragraph (1) shall include, but shall not be limited to, an evaluation of all of the following:

(A) The Student Tuition Recovery Fund, including the adequacy of its balance; the quality, timeliness, and consistency of claims processing; and the degree to which it has been, or will be, able to reimburse tuition for students.

(B) The bureau's enforcement program, including the means by which the bureau makes students and school employees aware of their ability to file complaints; the average time for investigating complaints; the standards for referring complaints to investigation; the average time to complete investigations; the adequacy of the bureau's inspections; the bureau's record of imposing discipline; the bureau's record of initiating investigations based upon publicly available information; the bureau's record of coordinating with law enforcement and public prosecutors; and whether the bureau has the enforcement resources necessary to protect consumers and ensure a fair and prompt resolution of complaints and investigations for both students and institutions.

(C) The bureau's efforts with respect to, and extent of institution compliance with, the public and student disclosure requirements of this chapter.

(D) Whether the bureau's staffing level and expertise are sufficient to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.

(c) Bureau staff and management shall cooperate with the Legislative Analyst's Office and the California State Auditor's Office and shall provide those agencies with access to data, case files, employees, and information as those agencies may, in their discretion, require for the purposes of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 281, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2013. Repealed as of January 1, 2015, pursuant to Section 94950.)