15-20.4-03. Board powers and duties

15-20.4-03. Board powers and duties The board has, in addition to the powers and duties now vested in it by law, the following powers and duties to: 1. Establish and require compliance with minimum standards and criteria for postsecondary career schools under this chapter. The standards and criteria must include quality of education, ethical and business practices, health and safety and fiscal responsibility, which applicants for authorization to operate shall meet: a. Before such authorization may be issued; and b. To continue such authorization in effect. The criteria and standards developed will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, but will not unreasonably hinder legitimate educational innovation. 2. Prescribe forms and conditions for, receive, investigate as it may deem necessary, and act upon applications for authorization to operate postsecondary career schools. 3. Maintain a list of postsecondary career schools authorized to operate in this state under the provisions of this chapter. The list must be available for the information of the public. 4. Negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with similar agencies in other states, if in the judgment of the board such agreements are or will be helpful in effectuating the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that nothing contained in any such reciprocity agreement may be construed as limiting the board's powers, duties, and responsibilities with respect to independently investigating or acting upon any application for authorization to operate, or any application for renewal of such authorization to operate, a postsecondary career school, or with respect to the enforcement of any provision of this chapter, or any of the rules or regulations promulgated hereunder. 5. Receive and cause to be maintained as a permanent file, copies of academic records specified by the board in the event any postsecondary career school required to have an authorization to operate under this chapter proposes to discontinue its operation. 6. Promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures necessary or appropriate for the conduct of its work and the implementation of this chapter, and to hold such hearings as it may deem advisable in accordance with chapter 28-32 or as required by law in developing such rules, regulations, and procedures, or in aid of any investigation or inquiry. 7. Investigate as it may deem necessary, on its own initiative or in response to any complaint lodged with it, any person, group, or entity subject to, or reasonably believed by the board to be subject to, the jurisdiction of this chapter; and in connection therewith to subpoena any persons, books, records, or documents pertaining to such investigation. The board may require answers in writing under oath to questions propounded by the board and may administer an oath or affirmation to any person in connection with any investigation. The board may, after hearing, revoke or suspend authorizations to operate. Subpoenas issued by the board are enforceable by any district court. 8. Require fees and bonds from postsecondary career schools in such sums and under such conditions as it may establish; provided, that fees established may not exceed the reasonable cost of the service being provided. 9. Exercise other powers and duties implied but not enumerated in this section but in conformity with the provisions of this chapter which, in the judgment of the board, are necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.