MS HB775

Requires all applicants for Mississippi home inspector licenses and license renewals to undergo fingerprint-based criminal history records checks through the Mississippi central criminal database and Federal Bureau of Investigation database, effective July 1, 2020.

Prohibits home inspector licensure if the applicant had a license revoked within the past five years, was convicted of a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering within five years (or at any time at the commission's discretion), or fails to demonstrate character and fitness to command public confidence.

Designates criminal history records information obtained by the commission as confidential and nonpublic, exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act, restricted to the commission's exclusive use in evaluating licensure eligibility.

Allows applicants to charge and collect from applicants the costs incurred in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history records, but prohibits multiple background check fees from applicants holding multiple licenses under the commission's jurisdiction within a calendar year.

Amends existing licensure requirements to include passage of a background investigation and adds failure to submit to or pass a background investigation as grounds for denial, non-renewal, revocation, or suspension of a license.