440.64 Regulation of schools and specialty schools.

(1) Duties of department.

(a) The department shall investigate the adequacy of the courses of instruction and instructional materials and equipment at schools and specialty schools and review those courses of instruction, instructional materials, and equipment for compliance with minimum standards established by rules of the department or cosmetology examining board, as appropriate.

(b) The department shall promulgate rules:

1. Establishing standards and criteria to prevent fraud and misrepresentation in the sale and advertising of courses and courses of instruction.

2. Regulating the negotiability of promissory instruments received by schools and specialty schools in payment of tuition and other charges.

3. Establishing minimum standards for the refund of portions of tuition, fees and other charges if a student does not enter a course or course of instruction or withdraws or is discontinued from a course or course of instruction.

4. Requiring schools and specialty schools to furnish information to the department concerning their facilities, curricula, instructors, registration and enrollment policies, enrollment rosters, student training hours, contracts, financial records, tuition and other charges and fees, refund policies and policies concerning the negotiability of promissory instruments received in payment of tuition and other charges.

(2) Auditors and inspectors.

(a) The department shall appoint auditors and inspectors under the classified service to audit and inspect schools and specialty schools.

(b) An auditor or inspector appointed under par. (a) may enter and audit or inspect any school or specialty school at any time during business hours.

(3) Investigations, hearings, reprimands, denials, limitations, suspensions and revocations.

(a) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the department may make investigations or conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter has occurred.

(b) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the department may reprimand a licensee or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke a license under this subchapter if it finds that the applicant or licensee has done any of the following:

1. Made a material misstatement in an application for licensure, certification or renewal.

2. Advertised in a manner which is false, deceptive or misleading.

3. Violated this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter.

(c) In addition to or in lieu of a reprimand or denial, limitation, suspension, or revocation of a license under par. (b), the department may assess against a school or specialty school a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 for each violation enumerated under par. (b).

History: 1987 a. 265; 2011 a. 190; 2017 a. 82.