The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him or her of amendments to a charter or articles of incorporation, as required by the general laws, which amendments shall add educational functions or the granting of degrees to the powers or purposes of any existing corporation, shall submit the proposed amendments to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or the board of governors for higher education and shall not issue the certificate authorizing those changes unless and until he or she shall receive from the appropriate board a certificate that the changes subject to the provisions of § 16-40-1 have been approved by the appropriate board.