HB 5248 - Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions on Occupational Licensing

• Establishes a uniform process allowing individuals with criminal convictions to request determination of whether their conviction disqualifies them from obtaining or holding occupational licenses across multiple regulated professions.

• Requires licensing authorities to consider three factors when evaluating felony convictions: (A) the nature of the conviction and its relationship to job duties, (B) rehabilitation information, and (C) time elapsed since conviction or release.

• Applies to numerous licensed professions including social workers, counselors, architects, accountants, contractors, sanitarians, pesticide applicators, arborists, security officers, private detectives, and alcohol permit holders.

• Mandates licensing authorities respond to conviction inquiry requests within 30 days and allows individuals to request the process for an affordable fee (maximum $15, waivable).

• Creates exceptions for certain professions (barbers, hairdressers, cosmeticians, estheticians, eyelash technicians, nail technicians, embalmers, funeral directors) that retain categorical bans on licensing individuals with felony convictions.