KRS 164.540: Council on Postsecondary Education designated agency of state for

purposes of regional compact -- Commonwealth not to maintain educational

institutions that are discriminatory -- Authorized actions on behalf of the

Commonwealth.

(1) The Council on Postsecondary Education in Kentucky as defined in KRS 164.011 is

hereby designated as the agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky charged with

the responsibility and vested with all necessary authority, subject to the conditions

and restrictions set out in s ubsection (2) of this section, to carry out the obligations,

participate in the planning and negotiations, and administer the rights, benefits, and

privileges, devolving upon the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its citizens

pursuant to the regional compact re ferred to in KRS 164.530, and to do all such

other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to implement the provisions

of said regional compact efficiently and impartially for the benefit of all citizens of

the Commonwealth.

(2) In its participati on in the regional compact, or in any other regional plan having a

similar purpose, the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall not erect, acquire, develop,

or maintain in any manner any educational institution within its borders to which

any student would be refus ed entrance on the basis of race, national origin, gender,

creed, or religion.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law governing the offering of postsecondary education in

the state, the council shall be authorized to take the following actions on behalf of

the Commonwealth:

(a) Enter into the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, which establishes

uniform national standards for interstate offerings of postsecondary distance

education and authorizes postsecondary educational institutions meeting those

standards located in member states or territories to provide distance education

to residents of the Commonwealth;

(b) Serve as the lead or "portal" agency on behalf of the Commonwealth's public

and private postsecondary institutions seeking to offer distance edu cation in

member states by:

1. Managing functional and administrative state responsibilities under the

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement; and

2. Serving as the official contact for other states and students from other

states on matters pertaining to the agreement; and

(c) Promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A

to establish procedures for participation by Kentucky postsecondary

institutions in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.