Sec. 3. Documentation requirements
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/bill/118/hr/9499/ih/section-3A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Beginning on the effective date of this Act, the Agency may not appoint an individual who purports to have a foreign academic credential (as described in subsection (c)) to a position in the Agency higher than GS–11 (or the equivalent), including a position for which such credential is not required, unless, prior to such appointment, the Agency obtains— a written evaluation from a credential evaluation service that includes— verification that the foreign academic credential was earned by the individual at a postsecondary educational institution outside the United States; the name of the institution that awarded the credential; the type of credential earned by the individual; the academic subject matter to which the credential pertains; an analysis indicating whether the foreign academic credential is comparable to a type of academic credential awarded by postsecondary educational institutions in the United States and, if so, which type of domestically awarded credential is most comparable to the foreign academic credential; an explanation of the processes and standards used by the credential evaluation service to determine the validity and comparability of the foreign academic credential under clauses
(i)and (v), respectively; a statement confirming that the standards and processes used to evaluate the comparability of the foreign academic credential under clause
(v)followed the relevant guidelines of the International Education Standards Council; and an assurance confirming that the credential evaluation service— inspected all documentation submitted to the service in connection with the service’s evaluation of the foreign academic credential; and did not find any evidence of fraud, forgery, or other material irregularities in such documentation; and documentation, such as an academic transcript or diploma, demonstrating that the individual completed all requirements necessary to obtain the foreign academic credential, which shall— be provided directly to the Agency by the postsecondary educational institution that issued the credential; and be certified as authentic by an official of the institution authorized to issue such documentation; or alternative documentation, obtained directly from the Government of the foreign country with jurisdiction over the institution that awarded the credential, demonstrating the validity of the credential. Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this Act, the Agency shall obtain the documentation described in subsection (a)(1) or the alternative documentation described in subsection (a)(2) with respect to each foreign academic credential purported to be held (as described in subsection (c)) by an individual in a position in the Agency that is higher than GS–11. The Agency shall take appropriate disciplinary action with respect to an individual described in paragraph
(1)in the event the Agency is unable to obtain the documentation required under such paragraph for a foreign academic credential purported to be held by such individual. The requirements under subsections
(a)and
(b)shall apply with respect to foreign academic credentials that are— disclosed in the application or other materials received by the Agency in connection with the hiring of an individual; or otherwise noted in the employment record of an individual. The Agency shall seek to establish procedures, in consultation with appropriate officials of foreign Governments, through which the Agency may obtain the alternative documentation described in subsection (a)(2)(A).