Perjury is still cool. (sarcasm)
Posted on 03/04/2006 8:32:42 AM PST by Sopater
Not only would it become illegal for people to lie on their résumés about their academic credentials, but according to a bill lawmakers passed Friday, the move could land those liars in jail.
State senators unanimously amended and approved a bill that would make giving or using a fake or otherwise unaccredited degree a class C felony, a crime of fraud that could warrant five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The legislation also would make it illegal to lie orally, as well as in writing, when trying to get a job or other kind of benefit.
Once final, the law would take effect in July.
An earlier version of the proposal, known as the diploma-mill bill, would have made someone subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for falsely claiming in writing to have an accredited degree, including a high school diploma, if it wasn't granted for actual coursework, the kind normally recognized by higher education standards in the United States.
The new version has increased penalties, but isn't harsh, said Rep. Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle, who sponsored the original proposal.
The term "diploma mill" or "degree mill" is used to describe businesses that purport to be educational institutions, but really only sell consumers a paper degree and a verification service, should potential employers inquire.
These businesses typically operate on the Internet and overseas, where it is difficult for American authorities to track them.
Diploma-mill degrees supposedly from the United States have aided foreign nationals seeking immigration status, which is also a concern for state lawmakers, said state Sen. Mark Schoesler, a Republican from Eastern Washington.
"When they're using them, they're actually perpetrating a fraud," said Schoesler, who previously introduced legislation in the Senate that would criminalize both issuing and using bogus degrees and diplomas.
"We are very interested in protecting consumers and making sure our schools and institutions of higher learning keep the credibility that they have earned," Kenney said. "This law was written with deliberate research."
Washington had become known recently as a haven for diploma mills because education officials had authority only over schools that had physical building in the state. Most degree mills today operate in cyberspace and tout distance learning by correspondence. Sometimes the only correspondence is from a student asking for a degree and the school asking for a credit card number.
There also are thriving Internet businesses that sell "novelty" or otherwise counterfeit degrees and diplomas from academic institutions.
In October, eight people were indicted in Spokane on federal wire and mail fraud charges, accused of selling worthless degrees from Web sites that issue degrees and offer verification services to people with enough money and life experience. The supposed schools involved were Saint Regis, James Monroe and Robertstown universities.
There are countless others in cyberspace. They generally have names that sound just close enough to a real school that employers, and even government agencies, have been easily fooled.
In 2004, the federal Government Accountability Office released a report that found that at least 28 senior-level federal workers had claimed degrees from diploma mills and other unaccredited schools.
For example, Charles Abell, who is still principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, claims in his Pentagon Web site bio that he has a master's degree from Columbus University. Columbus University is an unaccredited cyberschool supposedly located in New Orleans that was shut down by the state of Louisiana and now posts a mailing address in Mississippi.
The report also indicated that the GAO's investigation was not extensive and that officials believe that fake degrees are not limited to the 463 federal employees who were found to have them.
At least four other states have made either selling or using bogus degrees illegal. Oregon enacted a law three years ago that made lying about an academic credential subject to a civil penalty, but only after the perpetrator had been warned by education authorities.
In Washington, there is no such free pass.
"We're especially targeting those who purchase these credentials, since they unlawfully benefit from this activity," Schoesler said.
Last year, Schoesler was able to add language to a teacher certification bill that would make it illegal for teachers to use unaccredited degrees to qualify for pay incentives.
Is this really such a big problem???? Please. Is there anything the government won't put their paws on?
..not if your Hillary Clinton
Now if I see a bill against womyns' studies degrees, labeling them as bogus then I'll know real progress is being made.
Yeah. All this because Human Resources has become filled with ignorant box-checkers who wouldn't know Columbus from Columbia.
God forbid that HR should actually WORK for their money by checking up on references.
There goes the Congress!
This is an unconditional intrusion into free speech. Enforcement would be nightmarish, if you say on a resume you worked a week more than you did at a mcdonalds 10 years age, that be a lie, and you could go to prison. Next if an employer gets a reputation for pressing charges for lying resumes, how will they fare in trying to recruit future prospects? As far as the Fake Diplomas, if a boss is fool enough to accept a degree from Fandango State University, they deserve the bumpkin who they hire...
Do we really have room in jail for all the people who might be guilty of this?
Hey, does that mean Al Sharpton can be arrested for calling himself "Reverend" on his resume?
Degree mills exist for one purpose and one purpose only *FRAUD*. So yes, I see it as a state's role to criminalize fraud.
And John F. Kerry could be arrested for claiming he was in Cambodia!
Yea really,we are talking about the state of Washington-one of the bigest collections of liberal lay-a-bouts in the nation.Unless they let their inmates vote,the Dems are screwing themselves big time with this great idea.
Perjury is still cool. (sarcasm)
Damn! I can't say that I weigh 130? *%^*@%!
Hang around a public high school through the 12th grade, demonstrate a 8th grade reading and math proficiency, at most, and be awarded a high school diploma.
Whaaaat???
No more liar, lawyer - pants on fffffire???...
Now is a laaaaw!!
Time to stay locked at home or risk violating some laaaaw!
Does Bill Richardson saying he was drafted by MLB but later said he was not, count as lying?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1575482/posts
Damn. Just damn.
Legislature 2006
Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers struck a deal Friday expected to give high-school students who fail the state's standardized test three alternative ways they can graduate.
Senate Bill 6475 passed the House on Friday and is headed to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved.
Gov. Christine Gregoire also supports the measure, which would set up alternative routes to graduation such as putting together a portfolio of work.
Several bills were introduced this year dealing with the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) because this year's 10th-grade class is the first required by state law to pass the test to graduate by 2008.
House Education Chairman Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, said Senate Bill 6475 is only a temporary solution while the state studies its options in more detail. "This is not the end of the discussion," he said.
The legislation sets up several ways for students to graduate if they fail the WASL twice.
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