(a) The secretary of state shall adopt by rule standards for international student exchange visitor placement organizations. In adopting the rules, the secretary of state may adopt standards established by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, United States Department of State and the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. The secretary of state may incorporate standards established by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, United States Department of State or the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel by reference and may accept an organization’s designation by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, United States Department of State or acceptance for listing by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel as evidence of compliance with the standards.

(b) The secretary of state must require that an international student exchange visitor placement organization’s application form for participation as a host family include a signed document complying with section 299C.62, subdivision 2, that gives the organization permission to conduct a background check on members of the host family. Sections 299C.60 to 299C.64 apply to the background check, except that for purposes of this section the term “background check crime” includes any felony.