H.B. 910 - OLB Reform Summary

• Establishes new definitions distinguishing "occupational licensing boards" from "State agency licensing boards" and creates a nonexclusive list of state agencies that issue licenses across multiple professions.

• Requires occupational and state agency licensing boards to report annually to the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee the number of applicants, applicants granted licenses, and applicants with conviction records.

• Prohibits licensing boards from automatically denying licensure based solely on criminal history and requires boards to consider eight specific factors (crime severity, date, applicant age, circumstances, nexus to duties, rehabilitation records, subsequent crimes, and character references) before denying a license for any conviction.

• Mandates boards provide written findings explaining denial decisions within 30 days, retain records for five years, and disclose on applications and websites whether background checks are required, which factors will be considered, and the appeals process.

• Removes "moral turpitude" language from numerous professional licensing statutes (engineers, dentists, nurses, counselors, massage therapists, and others), replacing it with felony-based grounds for denial, effective October 1, 2019.