1. Until 1 year after the last date of attendance or date on which the damage occurred, whichever is later, a person claiming damage as a result of any act by a postsecondary educational institution or its agent, or both, that is a violation of NRS 394.383 to 394.560, inclusive, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, may file with the Administrator a verified complaint against the institution, its agent, or both. The complaint must set forth the alleged violation and contain other information as required by regulations of the Commission. A complaint may also be filed by a Commissioner or the Attorney General or initiated by the Administrator.

2. The Administrator shall investigate any verified complaint and may, at his or her discretion, attempt to effectuate a settlement by arbitration, mediation or negotiation. The Administrator may also consult with the applicable accrediting body to resolve the complaint. If a settlement cannot be reached, the Administrator shall render a decision and notify each party of the decision and the reasons for it by certified mail to his or her last known address. Either party may request a hearing before the Commission by notifying the Administrator by certified mail within 15 days after the decision was mailed to the party. The hearing must be held at the next meeting of the Commission in the geographical area convenient to the parties. If a hearing is not requested, the decision of the Administrator is final.

3. If, after consideration of all the evidence presented at a hearing, the Commission finds that a postsecondary educational institution or its agent, or both, are guilty of the violation alleged in the complaint, it shall issue and the Administrator shall serve upon the institution or agent, or both, an order to cease and desist from the violation. If the Commission finds the institution has substantially failed to furnish the instruction or services agreed upon in the agreement to enroll, it shall order the institution to make full restitution to the student of all money paid pursuant to the agreement. If the Commission finds that the institution has substantially furnished the instruction or services agreed upon in the agreement to enroll, but that conditions in the school were sufficiently substandard that it was not reasonable to expect the student to complete the instruction, the Commission shall order the institution to make restitution to the student of one-half the money paid pursuant to the agreement. The Commission may also, as appropriate, based on the Administrator’s investigation and the evidence adduced at the hearing, or either of them, institute proceedings to revoke an institution’s license or recommend that the Administrator institute proceedings to revoke an agent’s permit.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1514; A 1979, 1635; 1985, 999; 1989, 1466; 1995, 328; 2019, 2459)