(a) No person, board, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity shall offer instruction in any form or manner in any trade or in any industrial, commercial, service, professional or other occupation unless such person, board, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity first receives from the executive director a certificate authorizing the occupational instruction to be offered.

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(b) Except for initial authorizations, the executive director may accept institutional accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, in satisfaction of the requirements of this section and section 10a-22d, including the evaluation and attendance requirement. Except for initial authorizations, the executive director may accept programmatic accreditation in satisfaction of the requirements of this section and section 10a-22d with regard to instruction offered by a hospital unless the executive director finds reasonable cause not to rely upon such accreditation.

(c) Each person, board, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity which seeks to offer occupational instruction shall submit to the executive director, or the executive director’s designee, in such manner and on such forms as the executive director, or the executive director’s designee, prescribes, an application for a certificate of authorization. Each application for initial authorization shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee made payable to the private career school student protection account. Such application fee shall be in the amount of two thousand dollars for the private career school and two hundred dollars for each branch of a private career school in this state, except that, each application for initial authorization submitted on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee in the amount specified in such regulations. Any application for initial authorization that remains incomplete six months after the date such application was first submitted to the Office of Higher Education shall expire and the office shall not approve such expired application for authorization.

(d) Each person, board, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity seeking to offer occupational instruction shall have a net worth consisting of sufficient liquid assets or produce other evidence of fiscal soundness to demonstrate the ability of the proposed private career school to operate, achieve all of its objectives and meet all of its obligations, including those concerning staff and students, during the period of time for which the authorization is sought.

(e) Upon receipt of a complete application pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the executive director shall cause to be conducted an evaluation of the applicant school. Not later than sixty days (1) after receipt of a complete application for initial authorization, or (2) prior to expiration of the authorization of a private career school applying to renew its certificate of authorization pursuant to section 10a-22d, the executive director, or the executive director’s designee, shall appoint an evaluation team, pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, except that on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, the evaluation team shall be appointed pursuant to such regulations, to conduct such evaluation of the applicant school. The evaluation team shall submit a written report to the executive director recommending authorization or nonauthorization after an on-site inspection. Not later than one hundred twenty days following the completed appointment of the evaluation team, the executive director shall notify the applicant school of authorization or nonauthorization. The executive director may consult with the Labor Department and may request the advice of any other state agency which may be of assistance in making a determination. In the event of nonauthorization, the executive director shall set forth the reasons therefor in writing and the applicant school may request in writing a hearing before the executive director. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(f) For purposes of an evaluation of an applicant school, the executive director, or the executive director’s designee, shall appoint an evaluation team which shall include (1) at least two members representing the Office of Higher Education, and (2) at least one member for each of the areas of occupational instruction for which authorization is sought who shall be experienced in such occupation. The applicant school shall have the right to challenge any proposed member of the evaluation team for good cause shown. A written challenge shall be filed with the executive director within ten business days following the appointment of such evaluation team. In the event of a challenge, a decision shall be made thereon by the executive director within ten business days from the date such challenge is filed, and if the challenge is upheld the executive director shall appoint a replacement. Employees of the state or any political subdivision of the state may be members of evaluation teams. The executive director, or the executive director’s designee, shall not appoint any person to an evaluation team unless the executive director, or such designee, has received from such person a statement that the person has no interest which is in conflict with the proper discharge of the duties of evaluation team members as described in this section. The statement shall be on a form prescribed by the executive director and shall be signed under penalty of false statement. Except for any member of the evaluation team who is a state employee, members may be compensated for their service at the discretion of the executive director and shall be reimbursed for actual expenses, which expenses shall be charged to and paid by the applicant school.

(g) The evaluation team appointed pursuant to subsection (f) of this section shall: (1) Conduct an on-site inspection; (2) submit a written report outlining any evidence of noncompliance; (3) give the school thirty days from the date of the report to provide evidence of compliance; and (4) submit to the executive director a written report recommending authorization or nonauthorization not later than one hundred twenty days after the on-site inspection. The evaluation team shall determine whether (A) the quality and content of each course or program of instruction, including, but not limited to, residential, on-line, home study and correspondence, training or study shall reasonably and adequately achieve the stated objective for which such course or program is offered; (B) the school has adequate space, equipment, instructional materials and personnel for the instruction offered; (C) the qualifications of directors, administrators, supervisors and instructors shall reasonably and adequately assure that students receive education consistent with the stated objectives for which a course or program is offered; (D) students and other interested persons shall be provided with a catalog or similar publication describing the courses and programs offered, course and program objectives, length of courses and programs, schedule of tuition, fees and all other charges and expenses necessary for completion of the course or program, and termination, withdrawal and refund policies; (E) upon satisfactory completion of the course or program, each student shall be provided appropriate educational credentials by the school; (F) adequate records shall be maintained by the school to show attendance and grades, or other indicators of student progress, and standards shall be enforced relating to attendance and student performance; (G) the applicant school shall be financially sound and capable of fulfilling its commitments to students; (H) any student housing owned, leased, rented or otherwise maintained by the applicant school shall be safe and adequate; and (I) the school and any branch of the school in this state has a director located at the school or branch who is responsible for daily oversight of the school’s or branch’s operations. The evaluation team may also indicate in its report such recommendations as may improve the operation of the applicant school.