HF 5321

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/08/2024 02:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to labor and industry; regulating online continuing education; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 326B.098, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 326B.098, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Internet continuing education. new text end

new text begin (a) The design and delivery of an Internet
continuing education course offered by the department must be approved by the International
Distance Education Certification Center or the International Association for Continuing
Education and Training.
new text end

new text begin (b) An Internet continuing education course offered by the department must:
new text end

new text begin (1) specify the minimum computer system requirements;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide encryption that ensures that all personal information, including the student's
name, address, and credit card number, cannot be read as it passes across the Internet;
new text end

new text begin (3) include technology to guarantee seat time;
new text end

new text begin (4) include a high level of interactivity;
new text end

new text begin (5) include graphics that reinforce the content;
new text end

new text begin (6) include the ability for the student to contact an instructor or course sponsor within
a reasonable amount of time;
new text end

new text begin (7) include the ability for the student to get technical support within a reasonable amount
of time;
new text end

new text begin (8) include a statement that the student's information will not be sold or distributed to
any third party without prior written consent of the student. Taking the course does not
constitute consent;
new text end

new text begin (9) be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, excluding minimal downtime for
updating and administration, except that this provision does not apply to live courses taught
by an actual instructor and delivered over the Internet;
new text end

new text begin (10) provide viewing access to the online course at all times to the commissioner,
excluding minimal downtime for updating and administration;
new text end

new text begin (11) include a process to authenticate the student's identity;
new text end

new text begin (12) inform the student how long after its purchase a course will be accessible;
new text end

new text begin (13) inform the student that license education credit will not be awarded for taking the
course after it loses its status as an approved course;
new text end

new text begin (14) provide clear instructions on how to navigate through the course;
new text end

new text begin (15) provide automatic bookmarking at any point in the course;
new text end

new text begin (16) provide questions after each unit or chapter that must be answered before the student
can proceed to the next unit or chapter;
new text end

new text begin (17) include a reinforcement response when a quiz question is answered correctly;
new text end

new text begin (18) include a response when a quiz question is answered incorrectly;
new text end

new text begin (19) include a final examination in which the student must correctly answer 70 percent
of the questions;
new text end

new text begin (20) allow the student to go back and review any unit at any time, except during the final
examination;
new text end

new text begin (21) provide a course evaluation at the end of the course. At a minimum, the evaluation
must ask the student to report any difficulties caused by the online education delivery
method; and
new text end

new text begin (22) provide a completion certificate when the course and exam have been completed
and the provider has verified the completion. Electronic certificates are sufficient and shall
include the name of the provider; date and location of the course; educational program
identification that was provided by the department; hours of instruction or continuing
education hours; and licensee's or attendee's name and license, certification, or registration
number or the last four digits of the licensee's or attendee's Social Security number.
new text end

new text begin (c) The final examination must be either an encrypted online examination or a paper
examination that is monitored by a proctor who certifies that the student took the examination.
new text end