(a) There shall be an account to be known as the private career school student protection account within the General Fund. Each private career school authorized in accordance with the provisions of sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, inclusive, shall pay to the State Treasurer an amount equal to four-tenths of one per cent of the tuition received by such school per calendar quarter exclusive of any refunds paid, except that distance learning and correspondence schools authorized in accordance with the provisions of § 10a-22h, shall contribute to said account only for Connecticut residents enrolled in such schools. Payments shall be made by January thirtieth, April thirtieth, July thirtieth and October thirtieth in each year for tuition received during the three months next preceding the month of payment. In addition to amounts received based on tuition, the account shall also contain any amount required to be deposited into the account pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, inclusive. Said account shall be used for the purposes of § 10a-22v. Any interest, income and dividends derived from the investment of the account shall be credited to the account. All direct expenses for the maintenance of the account may be charged to the account upon the order of the State Comptroller. The executive director may assess the account for all direct expenses incurred in the implementation of the purposes of this section which are in excess of the normal expenditures of the Office of Higher Education.

(b) Payments required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be a condition of doing business in the state and failure to make any such payment within thirty days following the date on which it is due shall result in the loss of authorization under § 10a-22f. Such authorization shall not be issued or renewed if there exists a failure to make any such payment in excess of thirty days following the date on which it is due.

(c) If an audit conducted by the Office of Higher Education determines that a school has paid into the private career school student protection account an amount less than was required, the school shall pay such amount plus a penalty of ten per cent of the amount required to the State Treasurer within thirty days of receipt of notice from the executive director or the executive director’s designee of the amount of the underpayment and penalty.

(d) If an audit conducted by the Office of Higher Education determines that a school has paid into the private career school student protection account an amount more than was required, subsequent payment or payments by the school shall be appropriately credited until such credited payment or payments equal the amount of the overpayment.