5094.

 (a) In order for education to be qualifying, it shall meet the standards described in subdivision (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) At a minimum, education shall be from a degree-granting university, college, or other institution of learning accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency included in a list of these agencies published by the United States Secretary of Education under the requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq.).

(c) Education from a college, university, or other institution of learning located outside the United States may be qualifying provided it is deemed by the board to be equivalent to education obtained under subdivision (b). The board may require an applicant to submit documentation of their education to a credential evaluation service approved by the board for evaluation and to cause the results of this evaluation to be reported to the board in order to assess educational equivalency.

(d) The board shall adopt regulations specifying the criteria and procedures for approval of credential evaluation services. These regulations shall, at a minimum, require that the credential evaluation service (1) furnish evaluations directly to the board, (2) furnish evaluations written in English, (3) be a member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, (4) be used by accredited colleges and universities, (5) be reevaluated by the board every five years, (6) maintain a complete set of reference materials as specified by the board, (7) base evaluations only upon authentic, original transcripts and degrees and have a written procedure for identifying fraudulent transcripts, (8) include in the evaluation report, for each degree held by the applicant, the equivalent degree offered in the United States, the date the degree was granted, the institution granting the degree, an English translation of the course titles, and the semester unit equivalence for each of the courses, (9) have an appeal procedure for applicants, and (10) furnish the board with information concerning the credential evaluation service that includes biographical information on evaluators and translators, three letters of references from public or private agencies, statistical information on the number of applications processed annually for the past five years, and any additional information the board may require in order to ascertain that the credential evaluation service meets the standards set forth in this subdivision and in any regulations adopted by the board.

5096.20.

 (a) To ensure that Californians are protected from out-of-state licensees with disqualifying conditions who may unlawfully attempt to practice in this state under a practice privilege, prior to July 1, 2013, the board shall add an out-of-state licensee feature to its license lookup tab of the home page of its internet website that allows consumers to obtain information about an individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who seeks to exercise a practice privilege in this state, that is at least equal to the information that was available to consumers through its home page prior to January 1, 2013, through the practice privilege form previously filed by out-of-state licensees pursuant to Section 5096, as added by Chapter 921 of the Statutes of 2004, and the regulations adopted thereunder. At minimum, these features shall include all of the following:

(1) The ability of the consumer to search by name and state of licensure.

(2) The disclosure of information in the possession of the board, which the board is otherwise authorized to publicly disclose, about an individual exercising a practice privilege in this state, including, but not limited to, whether the board has taken action of any form against that individual and, if so, what the action was or is.

(3) A disclaimer that the consumer must click through prior to being referred to any other internet website, which in plain language explains that the consumer is being referred to an internet website that is maintained by a regulatory agency or other entity that is not affiliated with the board. This disclaimer shall include a link to relevant sections of this article that set forth disqualifying conditions, including, but not limited to, Section 5096.2.

(4) A statement in plain language that notifies consumers that they are permitted to file complaints against such individuals with the board.

(5) A link to the internet website or sites that the board determines, in its discretion, provides the consumer the most complete and reliable information available about the individual’s status as a licenseholder, permitholder, or certificate holder.

(6) If the board of another state does not maintain an internet website that allows a consumer to obtain information about its licensees including, but not limited to, disciplinary history, and that information is not available through a link to an internet website maintained by another entity, a link to contact information for that board, which contains a disclaimer in plain language that explains that the consumer is being referred to a board that does not permit the consumer to obtain information, including, but not limited to, disciplinary history, about individuals through the internet website, and that the out-of-state board is not affiliated with the board.

(b) The board shall biennially survey the internet websites and disclosure policies of other boards to ensure that its disclaimers are accurate.

5096.21.

 (a) (1) On and after January 1, 2016, if the board determines, through a majority vote of the board at a regularly scheduled meeting, that allowing individuals from a particular state to practice in this state pursuant to a practice privilege as described in Section 5096, violates the board’s duty to protect the public, pursuant to Section 5000.1, the board shall require out-of-state individuals licensed from that state, as a condition to exercising a practice privilege in this state, to file the notification form and pay the applicable fees as required by Section 5096.22.

(2) A state for which the board has made a determination pursuant to paragraph (1) to require individuals licensed from that state to file a notification form and pay the applicable fees may subsequently be redetermined by the board, by majority vote of the board at a regularly scheduled meeting, to allow individuals from that state to practice in this state pursuant to a practice privilege as described in Section 5096.

(b) The board shall, at minimum, consider the following factors when making a determination or redetermination pursuant to subdivision (a):

(1) Whether the state timely and adequately addresses enforcement referrals made by the board to the accountancy regulatory board of that state, or otherwise fails to respond to requests the board deems necessary to meet its obligations under this article.

(2) Whether the state makes the disciplinary history of its licensees publicly available through the Internet in a manner that allows the board to adequately link consumers to an internet website to obtain information that was previously made available to consumers about individuals from the state prior to January 1, 2013, through the notification form.

(3) Whether the state imposes discipline against licensees that is appropriate in light of the nature of the alleged misconduct.

(4) Whether the state has in place and is operating pursuant to enforcement practices substantially equivalent to the current best practices guidelines adopted by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy provided those guidelines have been determined by the board to meet or exceed the board’s own enforcement practices.

(c) On or before July 1, 2014, the board shall convene a stakeholder group consisting of members of the board, board enforcement staff, and representatives of the accounting profession and consumer representatives to consider whether the provisions of this article are consistent with the board’s duty to protect the public consistent with Section 5000.1, and whether the provisions of this article satisfy the objectives of stakeholders of the accounting profession in this state, including consumers. The group, at its first meeting, shall adopt policies and procedures relative to how it will conduct its business, including, but not limited to, policies and procedures addressing periodic reporting of its findings to the board. The group shall provide recommendations to the board on any matter upon which it is authorized to act.

5103.5.

 (a) The board shall post on its internet website, in an easily marked and identifiable location, notice of all formal accusations. The notice of any formal accusation shall contain a link to where a person may request and have sent to them a copy of the formal accusation, and the basis for the accusation and alleged violations filed by the board against a licensee.

(b) The link to where a person may request and have sent to them a copy of the formal accusation shall be clearly and conspicuously located on the same internet website page on which the notice is posted and shall authorize a person to request and receive the information described in subdivision (a) by regular mail or electronic mail.

(c) The board shall develop a statement that informs any person requesting a copy of a formal accusation and any person receiving a copy of a formal accusation that any allegations contained in the accusation are not a final determination of wrongdoing and are subject to adjudication and final review by the board pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). This statement shall be provided to a person requesting and receiving a copy of a formal accusation in a manner to be determined by the board.

5104.

 Any certified public accountant or public accountant whose certificate, registration, or permit has been revoked or suspended shall, upon request of the board, relinquish their certificate or permit. However, upon the expiration of the period of suspension, the board shall immediately return any suspended certificate or permit that has been relinquished.

5107.

 (a) The executive officer of the board may request the administrative law judge, as part of the proposed decision in a disciplinary proceeding, to direct any holder of a permit or certificate found to have committed a violation or violations of this chapter to pay to the board all reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case, including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees. The board shall not recover costs incurred at the administrative hearing.

(b) A certified copy of the actual costs, or a good faith estimate of costs where actual costs are not available, signed by the executive officer, shall be prima facie evidence of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case.

(c) The administrative law judge shall make a proposed finding of the amount of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case when requested to do so by the executive officer pursuant to subdivision (a). Costs are payable 120 days after the board’s decision is final, unless otherwise provided for by the administrative law judge or if the time for payment is extended by the board.

(d) The finding of the administrative law judge with regard to cost shall not be reviewable by the board to increase the cost award. The board may reduce or eliminate the cost award, or remand to the administrative law judge where the proposed decision fails to make a finding on costs requested by the executive officer pursuant to subdivision (a).

(e) The administrative law judge may make a further finding that the amount of reasonable costs awarded shall be reduced or eliminated upon a finding that respondent has demonstrated that they cannot pay all or a portion of the costs or that payment of the costs would cause an unreasonable financial hardship that cannot be remedied through a payment plan.

(f) When an administrative law judge makes a finding that costs be waived or reduced, they shall set forth the factual basis for their finding in the proposed decision.

(g) Where an order for recovery of costs is made and timely payment is not made as directed by the board’s decision, the board may enforce the order for payment in any appropriate court. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the board may have as to any holder of a permit or certificate directed to pay costs.

(h) In a judicial action for the recovery of costs, proof of the board’s decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms of payment.

(i) All costs recovered under this section shall be deposited in the Accountancy Fund.

(j) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board shall not renew or reinstate the permit or certificate of a holder who has failed to pay all of the costs ordered under this section.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 125.3, the board may, in its discretion, conditionally renew or reinstate for a maximum of three years the permit or certificate of a holder who demonstrates financial hardship and who enters into a formal agreement with the board to reimburse the board within that three-year period for those unpaid costs.

(k) Nothing in this section shall preclude the board from seeking recovery of costs in an order or decision made pursuant to an agreement entered into between the board and the holder of a permit or certificate.

(l) (1) Costs may not be recovered under this section as a result of a citation issued pursuant to Section 125.9 and its implementing language if the licensee complies with the citation.

(2) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that this subdivision is declaratory of existing law.

5121.

 The display or uttering by a person of a card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device, bearing a person’s name in conjunction with the words “certified public accountant” or any abbreviation thereof or the words “public accountant” or any abbreviation thereof shall be prima facie evidence in any prosecution, proceeding or hearing brought under this article that the person whose name is so displayed caused or procured the display or uttering of such card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device. Any such display or uttering shall be prima facie evidence that the person whose name is so displayed holds themselves out as a certified public accountant, or a public accountant holding a permit to practice public accountancy in this state under the provisions of this chapter. In any prosecution or hearing under this chapter, evidence of the commission of a single act prohibited by this chapter shall be sufficient to justify a conviction without evidence of a general course of conduct.

5134.

 The amount of fees prescribed by this chapter is as follows:

(a) The fee to be charged to each applicant for the certified public accountant examination shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars ($600). The board may charge a reexamination fee not to exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for each part that is subject to reexamination.

(b) The fee to be charged to out-of-state candidates for the certified public accountant examination shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per candidate.

(c) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for issuance of a certified public accountant certificate shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(d) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for issuance of a certified public accountant certificate by waiver of examination shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(e) The fee to be charged to each applicant for registration as a partnership or professional corporation shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(f) The biennial fee for the renewal of each of the permits to engage in the practice of public accountancy specified in Section 5070 shall not be less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and shall not exceed two hundred eighty dollars ($280).

(g) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for a retired status license, as described in Section 5070.1, shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(h) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for restoration of a license in a retired status to an active status pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 5070.1 shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(i) The delinquency fee shall be 50 percent of the accrued renewal fee.

(j) The initial permit fee is an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued, except that, if the permit is issued one year or less before it will expire, then the initial permit fee is an amount equal to 50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued. The board may, by regulation, provide for the waiver or refund of the initial permit fee where the permit is issued less than 45 days before the date on which it will expire.

(k) The fee to be charged for the certification of documents evidencing passage of the certified public accountant examination, the certification of documents evidencing the grades received on the certified public accountant examination, or the certification of documents evidencing licensure shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

(l) The board shall fix the fees in accordance with the limits of this section and any increase in a fee fixed by the board shall be pursuant to regulation duly adopted by the board in accordance with the limits of this section.

(m) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to ease entry into the public accounting profession in California, any administrative cost to the board related to the certified public accountant examination or issuance of the certified public accountant certificate that exceeds the maximum fees authorized by this section shall be covered by the fees charged for the biennial renewal of the permit to practice.

5134.

 The amount of fees prescribed by this chapter is as follows:

(a) The fee to be charged to each applicant for the certified public accountant examination shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars ($600). The board may charge a reexamination fee not to exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for each part that is subject to reexamination.

(b) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for issuance of a certified public accountant certificate shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed seven hundred dollars ($700).

(c) After June 30, 2024, the fee to be charged to each applicant for registration as a partnership or professional corporation shall not be less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000).

(d) (1) The biennial renewal fee for a certified public accountant to engage in the practice of public accountancy, as specified in Section 5070, shall be three hundred forty dollars ($340) for permits expiring after June 30, 2024.

(2) The biennial renewal fee for a certified public accountant to engage in the practice of public accountancy, as specified in Section 5070, shall be four hundred dollars ($400) for permits expiring after June 30, 2026.

(e) (1) The biennial renewal fee for a partnership or professional corporation shall be four hundred dollars ($400) for permits expiring after June 30, 2024.

(2) The biennial renewal fee for a partnership or professional corporation shall be five hundred twenty dollars ($520) for permits expiring after June 30, 2026.

(f) If the board has unencumbered funds in an amount that is equal to more than the board’s operating budget for the next two fiscal years, the board may fix the biennial renewal fees by regulation at an amount less than those identified in subdivision (d) for certified public accountants and subdivision (e) for partnerships and professional corporations.

(g) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for a retired status license, as described in Section 5070.1, shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(h) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for restoration of a license in a retired status to an active status pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 5070.1 shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(i) The delinquency fee shall be 50 percent of the accrued renewal fee.

(j) The initial permit fee is an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued, except that, if the permit is issued one year or less before it will expire, then the initial permit fee is an amount equal to 50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued. The board may, by regulation, provide for the waiver or refund of the initial permit fee where the permit is issued less than 45 days before the date on which it will expire.

(k) The fee to be charged for the certification of documents evidencing passage of the certified public accountant examination, the certification of documents evidencing the grades received on the certified public accountant examination, or the certification of documents evidencing licensure shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

(l) The board shall fix the fees in accordance with the limits of this section and any increase in a fee fixed by the board shall be pursuant to regulation duly adopted by the board in accordance with the limits of this section.

(m) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to ease entry into the public accounting profession in California, any administrative cost to the board related to the certified public accountant examination or issuance of the certified public accountant certificate that exceeds the maximum fees authorized by this section shall be covered by the fees charged for the biennial renewal of the permit to practice.

5550.3.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 111, the board may adopt guidelines for the delegation of its authority to grade the examinations of applicants for licensure to any vendor under contract to the board for provision of an architect’s registration examination. The guidelines shall be within the board’s legal authority to establish the standards for registration in this state, and shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Goals for the appropriate content, development, grading, and administration of an examination, against which the vendor’s rules and procedures can be judged.

(2) Procedures through which the board can reasonably assure itself that the vendor adequately meets the goals established by the board.

(b) The board shall not delegate its authority to grade the examinations of candidates for registration in this state to any vendor or any party not in compliance with Section 111 or with the guidelines established in subdivision (a).

(c) A candidate who received full credit for all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) prior to May 1, 2023, shall be deemed to have passed the ARE.

7685.3.

 (a) The current address, telephone number, and name of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau shall appear on the first page of any contract for goods and services offered by a licensee. At a minimum, the information shall be in 8-point boldface type and make this statement:

“FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FUNERAL, CEMETERY, CREMATION, AND HYDROLYSIS MATTERS, CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, CEMETERY AND FUNERAL BUREAU (ADDRESS), (TELEPHONE NUMBER).”

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

7685.3.

 (a) The current address, telephone number, and name of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau shall appear on the first page of any contract for goods and services offered by a licensee. At a minimum, the information shall be in 8-point boldface type and make this statement:

“FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FUNERAL, CEMETERY, CREMATION, HYDROLYSIS, AND REDUCTION MATTERS, CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, CEMETERY AND FUNERAL BUREAU (ADDRESS), (TELEPHONE NUMBER).”

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.

10471.

 (a) When an aggrieved person obtains (1) a final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, a criminal restitution order issued pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4 of the Penal Code or Section 3663 of Title 18 of the United States Code, or (2) an arbitration award that includes findings of fact and conclusions of law rendered in accordance with the rules established by the American Arbitration Association or another recognized arbitration body, and in accordance with Sections 1281 to 1294.2, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure when applicable, and when the arbitration award has been confirmed and reduced to judgment pursuant to Section 1287.4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, against a defendant based upon the defendant’s fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit, made with intent to defraud, or conversion of trust funds, arising directly out of any transaction in which the defendant, while licensed under this part, performed acts for which a real estate license or a prepaid rental listing service license was required, the aggrieved person may, upon the judgment becoming final, file an application with the Department of Real Estate for payment from the Consumer Recovery Account, within the limitations specified in Section 10474, of the amount unpaid on the judgment that represents an actual and direct loss to the claimant in the transaction. As used in this chapter, “court of competent jurisdiction” includes the federal courts, but does not include the courts of another state.

(b) The application shall be delivered in person, by certified mail, or electronically in a manner prescribed by the department, to an office of the department not later than one year after the judgment has become final.

(c) The application shall be made on a form prescribed by the department, verified by the claimant, and shall include the following:

(1) The name and address of the claimant.

(2) If the claimant is represented by an attorney, the name, business address, and telephone number of the attorney.

(3) The identification of the judgment, the amount of the claim and an explanation of its computation.

(4) A detailed narrative statement of the facts in explanation of the allegations of the complaint upon which the underlying judgment is based.

(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a statement by the claimant, signed under penalty of perjury, that the complaint upon which the underlying judgment is based was prosecuted conscientiously and in good faith. As used in this section, “conscientiously and in good faith” means that no party potentially liable to the claimant in the underlying transaction was intentionally and without good cause omitted from the complaint, that no party named in the complaint who otherwise reasonably appeared capable of responding in damages was dismissed from the complaint intentionally and without good cause, and that the claimant employed no other procedural means contrary to the diligent prosecution of the complaint in order to seek to qualify for the Consumer Recovery Account.

(B) For the purpose of an application based on a criminal restitution order, all of the following statements by the claimant:

(i) The claimant has not intentionally and without good cause failed to pursue any person potentially liable to the claimant in the underlying transaction other than a defendant who is the subject of a criminal restitution order.

(ii) The claimant has not intentionally and without good cause failed to pursue in a civil action for damages all persons potentially liable to the claimant in the underlying transaction who otherwise reasonably appeared capable of responding in damages other than a defendant who is the subject of a criminal restitution order.

(iii) The claimant employed no other procedural means contrary to the diligent prosecution of the complaint in order to seek to qualify for the Consumer Recovery Account.

(6) The name and address of the judgment debtor or, if not known, the names and addresses of persons who may know the judgment debtor’s present whereabouts.

(7) The following representations and information from the claimant:

(A) That the claimant is not a spouse of the judgment debtor nor a personal representative of the spouse.

(B) That the claimant has complied with all of the requirements of this chapter.

(C) That the judgment underlying the claim meets the requirements of subdivision (a).

(D) A description of searches and inquiries conducted by or on behalf of the claimant with respect to the judgment debtor’s assets liable to be sold or applied to satisfaction of the judgment, an itemized valuation of the assets discovered, and the results of actions by the claimant to have the assets applied to satisfaction of the judgment.

(E) That the claimant has diligently pursued collection efforts against all judgment debtors and all other persons liable to the claimant in the transaction that is the basis for the underlying judgment.

(F) That the underlying judgment and debt have not been discharged in bankruptcy, or, in the case of a bankruptcy proceeding that is open at or after the time of the filing of the application, that the judgment and debt have been declared to be nondischargeable.

(G) That the application was submitted to the department, as prescribed in subdivision (b), no later than one year after the underlying judgment became final.

(d) If the claimant is basing the application upon a judgment against a salesperson, and the claimant has not obtained a judgment against that salesperson’s employing broker, if any, or has not diligently pursued the assets of that broker, the application shall be denied for failure to diligently pursue the assets of all other persons liable to the claimant in the transaction unless the claimant can demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, either that the salesperson was not employed by a broker at the time of the transaction, or that the salesperson’s employing broker would not have been liable to the claimant because the salesperson was acting outside the scope of their employment by the broker in the transaction.

(e) The application form shall include detailed instructions with respect to documentary evidence, pleadings, court rulings, the products of discovery in the underlying litigation, and a notice to the applicant of their obligation to protect the underlying judgment from discharge in bankruptcy, to be appended to the application.

(f) An application for payment from the Consumer Recovery Account that is based on a criminal restitution order shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter. For the purpose of an application based on a criminal restitution order, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Judgment” means the criminal restitution order.

(2) “Complaint” means the facts of the underlying transaction upon which the criminal restitution order is based.

(3) “Judgment debtor” means any defendant who is the subject of the criminal restitution order.

21638.5.

 Sections 21636, 21636.1, 21637, and 21638, insofar as they apply to holding periods for personal property, are not applicable to personal property pledged to a pawnbroker with respect to the redemption of personal property by the pledgor.

94874.8.

 (a) An institution exempt from all or part of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 94874 or Section 94874.1 may apply to the bureau for an approval to operate pursuant to this section, but only subject to all of the following provisions:

(1) The bureau may approve the operation of an institution that is exempt from all or part of this chapter as specified above in accordance with the authority granted pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 94885). Upon issuing an approval to operate to an institution pursuant to this section, the bureau is authorized to regulate that institution through the full set of powers granted, and duties imposed, by this chapter, as those powers and duties would apply to an institution that is not exempt from this chapter.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, upon issuance of an approval to operate pursuant to this section, the institution is no longer eligible for exemption, from the provisions of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 94874 or Section 94874.1, unless authorized by subsequent legislation.

(3) Upon issuance of an approval to operate pursuant to this section, an institution is subject to all provisions of this chapter, and any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, that apply to an institution subject to this chapter, except as expressly provided in paragraph (4).

(4) (A) With respect to the placement and salary or wage data required to be collected, calculated, and reported by Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928), an institution issued an approval to operate pursuant to this section is not required to report on its first School Performance Fact Sheet any data from the period prior to the date of the issuance of the approval to operate that the institution was not required to collect and does not have available to it. An institution shall, however, report available data collected and calculated in accordance with this chapter and applicable regulations, regardless of the purpose for which the data was collected. If the required data is unavailable, the institution shall also disclose the unavailability of the data on all documents required by this chapter and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. Upon receiving an approval to operate pursuant to this section, an institution shall commence to collect and calculate all information necessary to comply with Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928).

(B) An institution receiving an approval to operate pursuant to this section shall provide to prospective students the School Performance Fact Sheet, file that fact sheet with the bureau, and post it on the institution’s internet website no later than the first August 1 after the institution is approved to operate and no later than August 1 of each year thereafter. These School Performance Fact Sheets shall report data for the previous two calendar years based upon the number of students who began the program or the number of graduates for each reported calendar year. If two calendar years have not passed since the issuance of the approval to operate by the August 1 deadline for the School Performance Fact Sheet, unless data for two years is available, the institution shall report the required data for the period subsequent to the date of the issuance of the notice of approval.

(b) An institution exempt from all or part of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 94874 or Section 94874.1 that was approved to operate by the bureau before the effective date of this section shall be deemed to have been approved pursuant to this section.

94874.9.

 (a) An independent institution of higher education, as defined in Section 66010, that is exempt from this chapter pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 94874 shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including laws relating to fraud, abuse, and false advertising.

(b) An institution described in subdivision (a) may execute a contract with the bureau for the bureau to review and, as appropriate, act on complaints concerning the institution, in accordance with Section 600.9 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) The execution of a contract by the bureau with an institution pursuant to subdivision (b) shall constitute establishment by the state of that institution to offer programs beyond secondary education, including programs leading to a degree or certificate, in accordance with Section 600.9 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(d) The bureau shall use a standard form contract for purposes of this section.

(e) A contract executed pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

(1) Require an institution to do all of the following:

(A) Cooperate with the bureau to resolve complaints received pursuant to this section.

(B) Provide the following disclosure notice in all written and internet-based documentation in which the institution’s complaint process is described, including the student catalog, student handbook, and the institution’s internet website:

“An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at (address), Sacramento, CA (ZIP Code), (internet website address), (telephone and fax numbers).”

(C) Designate a person at the institution to act as a liaison to the bureau.

(D) Pay one thousand seventy-six dollars ($1,076) each year for costs incurred by the bureau to perform activities pursuant to the contract, unless another amount is determined by the bureau.

(2) (A) Authorize the bureau, for any complaint it receives, including any complaints related to the institution’s policies or procedures, or both, as determined by the bureau, to refer the complaint to the institution, an accrediting agency, or another appropriate entity for resolution.

(B) The bureau shall notify the complainant and the institution of a referral.

(C) This paragraph shall not be construed to relieve the bureau of its responsibility to ensure that a complaint it has referred for purposes of resolution is resolved by the receiving entity.

(f) The bureau may terminate a contract executed pursuant to this section if an institution is no longer an independent institution of higher education as defined in Section 66010 or fails to comply with the provisions of the contract.

(g) All moneys collected by the bureau that relate to a contract executed pursuant to this section, including payments collected in accordance with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), shall be deposited in the Private Postsecondary Education Administration Fund.

(h) The bureau shall maintain, on its internet website, both of the following:

(1) The provisions of the standard form contract used for purposes of this section.

(2) A list of institutions with which the bureau has executed a contract pursuant to this section.

(i) On or before February 1, 2017, and each year thereafter, the bureau shall report to the Director of Finance and, in conformity with Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature regarding implementation of this section. The report shall include all of the following information:

(1) A list of institutions with which the bureau has executed a contract pursuant to this section.

(2) The total number of complaints received by the bureau relating to institutions listed in paragraph (1).

(3) The general nature of those complaints.

(4) The total number of those complaints referred to another entity, disaggregated by the entity to which each complaint was referred.

(5) The total number of complaints resolved, disaggregated by the entity that resolved each complaint.

(6) The total number of complaints pending, disaggregated by the entity to which each complaint was referred.

(j) Notwithstanding any other law, the Department of General Services, at the request of the bureau, may exempt contracts executed pursuant to this section from any laws, rules, resolutions, or procedures that are otherwise applicable to public contracts that the Department of General Services administers.

94878.

 (a) The bureau shall establish an internet website that includes at least all of the following information:

(1) An explanation of the bureau’s scope of authority.

(2) (A) A directory of approved institutions, and a link, if feasible, to the internet website of each institution.

(B) For each institution, the directory shall be developed in a manner that allows the user to search by institution and shall include all of the following information:

(i) The status of the institution’s approval to operate.

(ii) The information provided by the institutions, including, but not limited to, the annual report, as required by Section 94934, including the school catalog and the School Performance Fact Sheet. The School Performance Fact Sheet shall be maintained on the directory for at least five years after the date of its submission to the bureau.

(iii) If a law school satisfies the requirements of this chapter regarding a School Performance Fact Sheet by complying with the requirements of Section 94910.5, the bureau shall include the information provided by the institution pursuant to Section 94910.5 on its internet website and shall maintain the information in the same manner as required by clause (ii).

(iv) The disciplinary history of the institution, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(I) Pending formal accusations filed by the bureau.

(II) Suspensions, revocations, citations, fines, infractions, probations, pending litigation filed by the bureau, and final judgments resulting from litigation filed by the bureau.

(III) Pending or final civil or criminal cases filed by the Attorney General, a city attorney, or a district attorney in this state, or filed in any state by an attorney general or a federal regulatory or prosecutorial agency of which the bureau has received notice.

(IV) Final administrative actions by the United States Department of Education, including orders requiring restitution to students.

(V) All disciplinary actions ordered by an accreditation agency, including any order to show cause, of which the bureau has received notice pursuant to Section 94934 or other information otherwise publicly available of which the bureau has received notice.

(b) The bureau shall maintain the internet website described in subdivision (a). The bureau shall ensure that the information specified in subdivision (a) is kept current. The bureau shall update the internet website at least annually, to coincide with the submission of annual reports by the institutions pursuant to Section 94934.

(c) (1) The bureau shall post on its internet website a list of all institutions that were denied approval to operate, after the denial is final, and describe in clear and conspicuous language the reason the institution was denied approval. The bureau shall include with this list the statement provided in paragraph (2) on its internet website:

(2) “The following institutions were denied approval to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for failing to satisfy the standards relating to educational quality, or consumer protection, or both. These unlicensed institutions are not operating in compliance with the law, and students are strongly discouraged from attending these institutions.”

94897.

 An institution shall not do any of the following:

(a) Use, or allow the use of, any reproduction or facsimile of the Great Seal of the State of California on a diploma.

(b) Promise or guarantee employment, or otherwise overstate the availability of jobs upon graduation.

(c) Advertise concerning job availability, degree of skill, or length of time required to learn a trade or skill unless the information is accurate and not misleading.

(d) Advertise, or indicate in promotional material, without including the fact that the educational programs are delivered by means of distance education if the educational programs are so delivered.

(e) Advertise, or indicate in promotional material, that the institution is accredited, unless the institution has been accredited by an accrediting agency.

(f) Solicit students for enrollment by causing an advertisement to be published in “help wanted” columns in a magazine, newspaper, or publication, or use “blind” advertising that fails to identify the institution.

(g) Offer to compensate a student to act as an agent of the institution with regard to the solicitation, referral, or recruitment of any person for enrollment in the institution, except that an institution may award a token gift to a student for referring an individual, provided that the gift is not in the form of money, no more than one gift is provided annually to a student, and the gift’s cost is not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(h) Pay any consideration to a person to induce that person to sign an enrollment agreement for an educational program.

(i) Use a name in any manner improperly implying any of the following:

(1) The institution is affiliated with any government agency, public or private corporation, agency, or association if it is not, in fact, thus affiliated.

(2) The institution is a public institution.

(3) The institution grants degrees, if the institution does not grant degrees.

(j) In any manner make an untrue or misleading change in, or untrue or misleading statement related to, a test score, grade or record of grades, attendance record, record indicating student completion, placement, employment, salaries, or financial information, including any of the following:

(1) A financial report filed with the bureau.

(2) Information or records relating to the student’s eligibility for student financial aid at the institution.

(3) Any other record or document required by this chapter or by the bureau.

(k) Willfully falsify, destroy, or conceal any document of record while that document of record is required to be maintained by this chapter.

(l) Use the terms “approval,” “approved,” “approval to operate,” or “approved to operate” without stating clearly and conspicuously that approval to operate means compliance with state standards as set forth in this chapter. An institution may not state or imply either of the following:

(1) The institution or its educational programs are endorsed or recommended by the state or by the bureau.

(2) The approval to operate indicates that the institution exceeds minimum state standards as set forth in this chapter.

(m) Direct any individual to perform an act that violates this chapter, to refrain from reporting unlawful conduct to the bureau or another government agency, or to engage in any unfair act to persuade a student not to complain to the bureau or another government agency.

(n) Compensate an employee involved in recruitment, enrollment, admissions, student attendance, or sales of educational materials to students on the basis of a commission, commission draw, bonus, quota, or other similar method related to the recruitment, enrollment, admissions, student attendance, or sales of educational materials to students, except as provided in paragraph (1) or (2):

(1) If the educational program is scheduled to be completed in 90 days or less, the institution shall pay compensation related to a particular student only if that student completes the educational program.

(2) For institutions participating in the federal student financial aid programs, this subdivision shall not prevent the payment of compensation to those involved in recruitment, admissions, or the award of financial aid if those payments are in conformity with federal regulations governing an institution’s participation in the federal student financial aid programs.

(o) Require a prospective student to provide personal contact information in order to obtain, from the institution’s internet website, educational program information that is required to be contained in the school catalog or any information required pursuant to the consumer information requirements of Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, and any amendments thereto.

(p) Offer an associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree without disclosing to prospective students before enrollment whether the institution or the degree program is unaccredited and any known limitation of the degree, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Whether a graduate of the degree program will be eligible to sit for the applicable licensure exam in California and other states.

(2) A statement that reads: “A degree program that is unaccredited or a degree from an unaccredited institution is not recognized for some employment positions, including, but not limited to, positions with the State of California.”

(3) That a student enrolled in an unaccredited institution is not eligible for federal financial aid programs.

(q) In any manner commit fraud against, or make a material untrue or misleading statement to, a student or prospective student under the institution’s authority or the pretense or appearance of the institution’s authority.

(r) Charge or collect any payment for institutional charges that are not authorized by an executed enrollment agreement.

(s) Violate Section 1788.93 of the Civil Code.

(t) Require a prospective, current, or former student or employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement pertaining to their relationship to, or experience with, the institution, except that an institution may use a nondisclosure agreement to protect the institution’s intellectual property and trade secrets. Any nondisclosure agreement in violation of this section is void and not enforceable at law or in equity.

(u) Fail to maintain policies related to compliance with this chapter or adhere to the institution’s stated policies.

94902.

 (a) A student shall enroll solely by means of executing an enrollment agreement. The enrollment agreement shall be signed by the student and by an authorized employee of the institution.

(b) An enrollment agreement is not enforceable unless all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The student has received the institution’s catalog and School Performance Fact Sheet prior to signing the enrollment agreement.

(2) At the time of the execution of the enrollment agreement, the institution held a valid approval to operate.

(3) Prior to the execution of the enrollment agreement, the student and the institution have signed and dated the information required to be disclosed in the School Performance Fact Sheet pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 94910. Each of these items in the School Performance Fact Sheet shall include a line for the student to initial and shall be initialed and dated by the student.

(c) A student shall receive a copy of the signed enrollment agreement, in writing or electronically, regardless of whether total charges are paid by the student.

94905.

 (a) During the enrollment process, an institution offering educational programs designed to lead to positions in a profession, occupation, trade, or career field requiring licensure in this state shall exercise reasonable care to determine if the student will not be eligible to obtain licensure in the profession, occupation, trade, or career field at the time of the student’s graduation and shall provide all students enrolled in those programs with a written copy of the requirements for licensure established by the state, including any applicable course requirements established by the state.

(1) If the minimum course requirements of the institution exceed the minimum requirements for state licensure, the institution shall disclose this information, including a list of those courses that are not required for state licensure.

(2) The institution shall not execute an enrollment agreement with a student that is known to be ineligible for licensure, unless the student’s stated objective is other than licensure.

(b) During the enrollment process, an institution may discuss internships and student jobs available to the student during the student’s attendance at the institution. If the institution discusses internships and student jobs, the institution shall disclose the number of requests for internship and student job placement assistance received by the institution during the immediately preceding calendar year and the number of actual placements during that year.

(c) During the enrollment process, an institution offering educational programs designed to lead to positions in a profession, occupation, trade, or career field where voluntary licensure by a government agency is available, shall provide its students seeking to enroll in those programs with a written copy of the requirements for that voluntary licensure.

94910.

 Except as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 94909 and Section 94910.5, prior to enrollment, an institution shall provide a prospective student with a School Performance Fact Sheet containing, at a minimum, the following information, as it relates to the educational program:

(a) Completion rates, as calculated pursuant to Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928).

(b) Placement rates for each educational program, as calculated pursuant to Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928), if the educational program is designed to lead to, or the institution makes any express or implied claim related to preparing students for, a recognized career, occupation, vocation, job, or job title.

(c) License examination passage rates for programs leading to employment for which passage of a state licensing examination is required, as calculated pursuant to Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928).

(d) Salary or wage information, as calculated pursuant to Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928).

(e) If a program is too new to provide data for any of the categories listed in this subdivision, the institution shall state on its fact sheet: “This program is new. Therefore, the number of students who graduate, the number of students who are placed, or the starting salary you can earn after finishing the educational program are unknown at this time. Information regarding general salary and placement statistics may be available from government sources or from the institution, but is not equivalent to actual performance data.”

(f) All of the following:

(1) A description of the manner in which the figures described in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, are calculated or a statement informing the reader of where they may obtain a description of the manner in which the figures described in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, are calculated.

(2) A statement informing the reader of where they may obtain from the institution a list of the employment positions determined to be within the field for which a student received education and training for the calculation of job placement rates as required by subdivision (b).

(3) A statement informing the reader of where they may obtain from the institution a list of the objective sources of information used to substantiate the salary disclosure as required by subdivision (d).

(g) The following statements:

(1) “This fact sheet is filed with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Regardless of any information you may have relating to completion rates, placement rates, starting salaries, or license exam passage rates, this fact sheet contains the information as calculated pursuant to state law.”

(2) “Any questions a student may have regarding this fact sheet that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at (address), Sacramento, CA (ZIP Code), (internet website), (telephone and fax numbers).”

(h) If the institution participates in federal financial aid programs, the most recent three-year cohort default rate reported by the United States Department of Education for the institution and the percentage of enrolled students receiving federal student loans.

(i) Data and information disclosed pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, is not required to include students who satisfy the qualifications specified in subdivision (d) of Section 94909, but an institution shall disclose whether the data, information, or both provided in its fact sheet excludes students pursuant to this subdivision. An institution shall not actively use data specific to the fact sheet in its recruitment materials or other recruitment efforts of students who are not California residents and do not reside in California at the time of their enrollment.

94910.5.

 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a law school that meets the criteria of subdivision (b) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this chapter regarding a School Performance Fact Sheet by doing all of the following:

(1) Complying with Standard 509 of the American Bar Association’s Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools, as that standard may be amended.

(2) Providing completion rates of students and placement rates, bar passage rates, and salary and wage information of graduates to prospective students prior to enrollment through the law school application process administered by the Law School Admission Council.

(3) (A) Providing to prospective students any additional information required to be reported on a School Performance Fact Sheet that is not reported pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), including, but not limited to, the most recent three-year cohort default rate reported by the United States Department of Education for the law school and the percentage of enrolled students receiving federal student loans.

(B) If the law school’s three-year cohort default rate reported by the United States Department of Education is aggregated with the three-year cohort default rate of an institution to which the law school belongs, then the law school shall provide to prospective students the law school’s three-year cohort default rate disaggregated from the institution’s three-year cohort default rate.

(C) The law school shall, at a minimum, provide the information described in this paragraph to prospective students by clearly posting the information in a conspicuous location on the law school’s internet website.

(4) Annually providing the information required to be disclosed pursuant to this subdivision to the bureau.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall apply to a law school that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The law school is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

(2) The law school is owned by an institution authorized to operate by the bureau.

(3) The law school reports graduate salary information and other information to the National Association for Law Placement.

(4) The law school is approved to operate by the bureau pursuant to Section 94874.8.

94911.

 An enrollment agreement shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(a) The name of the institution and the name of the educational program, including the total number of credit hours, clock hours, or other increment required to complete the educational program.

(b) A schedule of total charges, including a list of any charges that are nonrefundable and the student’s obligations to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, clearly identified as nonrefundable charges.

(c) In underlined capital letters on the same page of the enrollment agreement in which the student’s signature is required, “THE TOTAL CHARGES FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD OF ATTENDANCE,” “THE ESTIMATED TOTAL CHARGES FOR THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM,” and “THE TOTAL CHARGES THE STUDENT IS OBLIGATED TO PAY UPON ENROLLMENT,” followed by the relevant amounts of charges in bold, underlined type.

(d) A clear and conspicuous statement that the enrollment agreement is legally binding when signed by the student and accepted by the institution.

(e) (1) A disclosure with a clear and conspicuous caption, “STUDENT’S RIGHT TO CANCEL,” under which it is explained that the student has the right to cancel the enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later.

(2) The disclosure shall contain the institution’s refund policy and a statement that, if the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

(3) The text shall also include a description of the procedures that a student is required to follow to cancel the enrollment agreement or withdraw from the institution and obtain a refund.

(f) A statement specifying that, if the student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund.

(g) A statement specifying that, if the student is eligible for a loan guaranteed by the federal or state government and the student defaults on the loan, both of the following may occur:

(1) The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against the student, including applying any income tax refund to which the person is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan.

(2) The student may not be eligible for any other federal student financial aid at another institution or other government assistance until the loan is repaid.

(h) The transferability disclosure that is required to be included in the school catalog, as specified in paragraph (15) of subdivision (a) of Section 94909.

(i) (1) The following statement: “Prior to signing this enrollment agreement, you must be given a catalog or brochure and a School Performance Fact Sheet, which you are encouraged to review prior to signing this agreement. These documents contain important policies and performance data for this institution. This institution is required to have you sign and date the information included in the School Performance Fact Sheet relating to completion rates, placement rates, license examination passage rates, salaries or wages, and the most recent three-year cohort default rate, if applicable, prior to signing this agreement.”

(2) Immediately following the statement required by paragraph (1), a line for the student to initial, including the following statement: “I certify that I have received the catalog, School Performance Fact Sheet, and information regarding completion rates, placement rates, license examination passage rates, salary or wage information, and the most recent three-year cohort default rate, if applicable, included in the School Performance Fact Sheet, and have signed, initialed, and dated the information provided in the School Performance Fact Sheet.”

(j) The following statements:

 

(1) “Any questions a student may have regarding this enrollment agreement that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at (address), Sacramento, CA (ZIP Code), (internet website address), (telephone and fax numbers).”

 

(2) “A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (toll-free telephone number) or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau’s internet website (internet website address).”

 

(k) The following statement above the space for the student’s signature:

 

“I understand that this is a legally binding contract. My signature below certifies that I have read, understood, and agreed to my rights and responsibilities, and that the institution’s cancellation and refund policies have been clearly explained to me.”

 

94913.

 (a) An institution that maintains an internet website shall provide on that internet website all of the following:

(1) The school catalog.

(2) A School Performance Fact Sheet for each educational program offered by the institution.

(3) Student brochures offered by the institution.

(4) A link to the bureau’s internet website.

(5) The institution’s most recent annual report submitted to the bureau.

(b) An institution shall include information concerning where students may access the bureau’s internet website anywhere the institution identifies itself as being approved by the bureau.

94941.

 (a) An individual who has cause to believe that an institution has violated this chapter, or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, may file a complaint with the bureau against the institution. The complaint shall set forth the alleged violation, and shall contain any other information as may be required by the bureau.

(b) To ensure that the bureau’s resources are maximized for the protection of the public, the bureau, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall establish priorities for its inspections and other investigative and enforcement resources to ensure that institutions representing the greatest threat of harm to the greatest number of students are identified and disciplined by the bureau or referred to the Attorney General.

(c) In developing its priorities for inspection, investigation, and enforcement regarding institutions, the bureau shall consider as posing heightened risks the characteristics of the following institutions:

(1) An institution that receives significant public resources, including an institution that receives more than 70 percent of its revenues from federal financial aid, state financial aid, financial aid for veterans, and other public student aid funds.

(2) An institution with a large number of students defaulting on their federal loans, including an institution with a three-year cohort default rate above 15.5 percent.

(3) An institution with reported placement rates, completion rates, or licensure rates in an educational program that are far higher or lower than comparable educational institutions or programs.

(4) An institution that experiences a dramatic increase in enrollment, recently expanded educational programs or campuses, or recently consolidated campuses.

(5) An institution that offers only nonremedial educational program courses in English, but enrolls students with limited or no English language proficiency.

(6) An institution that has experienced a recent change of ownership or control, or a change in the business organization of the institution.

(7) An institution with audited financial statements that do not satisfy the bureau’s requirements for financial stability.

(8) An institution that has recently been the subject of an investigation, judgment, or regulatory action by, or a settlement with, a governmental agency.

(9) An institution that experiences institutional or programmatic accreditation restriction by an accreditor, government restriction of, or injunction against, its approval to operate, or placement on cash-reimbursement or heightened monitoring status by the United States Department of Education.

(d) The bureau shall indicate in an annual report, to be made publicly available on its internet website, the number of temporary restraining orders, interim suspension orders, and disciplinary actions taken by the bureau, disaggregated by each priority category established pursuant to subdivision (b).

(e) The bureau shall, in consultation with the advisory committee, adopt regulations to establish categories of complaints or cases that are to be handled on a priority basis. The priority complaints or cases shall include, but not be limited to, those alleging unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business acts or practices, including unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading statements, including all statements made or required to be made pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, related to any of the following:

(1) Degrees, educational programs, or internships offered, the appropriateness of available equipment for a program, or the qualifications or experience of instructors.

(2) Job placement, graduation, time to complete an educational program, or educational program or graduation requirements.

(3) Loan eligibility, terms, whether the loan is federal or private, or default or forbearance rates.

(4) Passage rates on licensing or certification examinations or whether an institution’s degrees or educational programs provide students with the necessary qualifications to take these exams and qualify for professional licenses or certifications.

(5) Cost of an educational program, including fees and other nontuition charges.

(6) Affiliation with or endorsement by any government agency, or by any organization or agency related to the Armed Forces, including, but not limited to, groups representing veterans.

(7) Terms of withdrawal and refunds from an institution.

(8) Payment of bonuses, commissions, or other incentives offered by an institution to its employees or contractors.

94942.

 (a) The bureau shall establish a toll-free telephone number staffed by a bureau employee by which a student or a member of the public may file a complaint under this chapter.

(b) The bureau shall make a complaint form available on its internet website. The bureau shall permit students and members of the public to file a complaint under this chapter through the bureau’s internet website.

94949.73.

 (a) The office shall provide individualized assistance to students to relieve or mitigate the economic and educational opportunity loss incurred by those students who attended a Corinthian Colleges, Inc., institution or other eligible institution.

(b) Specific services provided by the office shall include all of the following:

(1) Outreach and education to students regarding the assistance available from the office.

(2) Screening requests for assistance received by the office and providing individualized assistance to help students determine their relief eligibility, identify and obtain necessary documents, complete and submit applications, and provide additional services as necessary.

(c) For purposes of this section, “other eligible institution” means an institution identified by the office whose unlawful activities or closure has resulted in its students being eligible for repayment from the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, debt relief from the United States Department of Education, or other student financial aid relief.

(d) (1) The office shall quarterly report by posting on the bureau’s internet website, through September 1, 2018, on all of the following:

(A) A summary of the outreach and education activities conducted by the office pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and the number of students served from Corinthian Colleges, Inc., institutions and every other eligible institution.

(B) A detailed summary of services provided to those students, as follows:

(i) The number of students assisted with submitting Student Tuition Recovery Fund claims to the bureau by the office, and of the claims submitted, the number that are pending, on appeal, or have been approved or denied. For the claims that have been approved, the office shall report the amount of student loans canceled, the total of student loans paid off, the total amount of cash reimbursed to students, and the total amount of educational credit granted.

(ii) The number of students assisted with submitting federal loan forgiveness claims, and of the claims submitted, the number of those claims that are pending, on appeal, or have been approved or denied. For the claims that have been approved, the office shall report the estimated total in student loans canceled and the total amount of funds refunded to students.

(iii) The number of students assisted with private student loan relief, other than through Student Tuition Recovery Fund claims, and a summary of assistance provided and relief outcomes obtained.

(iv) The number of students whom the office helped to obtain income-dependent repayment plans on their federal loans, and of those students, the number of students helped out of default on the federal loans through consolidation or rehabilitation.

(2) The office shall provide, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, the Legislature, the department, and the bureau a final report summarizing the information submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) by January 1, 2019.