Senate Bill 305 Summary

• Clarifies definitions of occupational licensing boards and adds a new category of "State agency licensing boards" staffed by full-time state employees, with a comprehensive list of state agencies that issue licenses.

• Requires occupational licensing boards to file annual reports by October 31 showing the number of applicants, number granted licenses, and data on applicants with criminal convictions and license denials related to convictions.

• Prohibits boards from automatically denying licenses based solely on criminal convictions for crimes of moral turpitude; instead requires boards to consider eight specific factors including crime severity, date, age at time of crime, nexus to licensee duties, and rehabilitation records.

• Requires boards to provide written findings signed by the presiding officer to denied applicants within 30 days and retain records for five years; entitles denied applicants to a rehearing if they have relevant new evidence regarding qualifications.

• Removes references to "crimes involving moral turpitude" from multiple professional licensing statutes (auctioneers, engineers, dentists, physicians, nurses, counselors, etc.) and replaces them with references to felony convictions or fraud-specific language.

• Takes effect October 1, 2019.