(a) In addition to the authority granted to the commission under Section 44275.4, the commission may determine that the national standards for coursework, programs, or degrees in a country other than the United States are equivalent to those offered by a regionally accredited institution in the United States. If the commission determines that the other country’s national standards are equivalent, an individual who holds or is eligible for a credential in that country is presumed to have satisfied the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44275.4.

(b) The commission may enter into an agreement with an evaluating agency as necessary to make a determination regarding another country’s national standards.

(c) The commission shall adopt regulations necessary to implement this section, including regulations that do both of the following:

(1) Establish uniform standards for making a determination regarding another country’s national standards.

(2) Prescribe the procedure by which a determination regarding another country’s national standards shall occur.

(d) (1) The commission shall annually report to the Legislature the list of countries that qualify under this section, the number of credential applications from foreign countries that are approved, and the country of origin of those credential applications.

(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 199, Sec. 1. (AB 681) Effective January 1, 2018.)