Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2735 Compare Versions

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33	28		ENGROSSED HOUSE
34	29		BILL NO. 2735 By: Kendrix of the House
35	30
36	31		and
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38	33		Alvord of the Senate
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43	38		An Act relating to professions and occupations;
44	39		amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 4000.1, as last
45	40		amended by Section 9, Chapter 227, O.S.L. 2024 (59
46	41		O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 4000.1), which relates to
47	42		denial of licensure and certification; adding an
48	43		exception; and providing an effective date.
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53	48		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
54	49		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 40 00.1, as
55	50		last amended by Section 9, Chapter 227, O.S.L. 2024 (59 O.S. Supp.
56	51		2024, Section 4000.1), is amended to read as follows:
57	52		Section 4000.1. A. As used in this section:
58	53		1. "Substantially relate" means the nature of the criminal
59	54		conduct for which th e person was convicted has a direct bearing on
60	55		the fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or
61	56		responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation; and
62	57		2. "Pose a reasonable threat" means the nature of the criminal
63	58		conduct for which the person was convicted involved an act or threat
	59	+	of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability
	60	+	to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.
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91		-	of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability
92		-	to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.
93	87		B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a conviction,
94	88		plea of guilty or no lo contendere, or pending criminal charge of a
95	89		crime may be grounds for the denial of an applicant for a state
96	90		license or state certification to practice an occupation only if the
97	91		underlying offense substantially relates to the duties and
98	92		responsibilities of the occupation and poses a reasonable threat to
99	93		public safety, health, or welfare. When making a determination
100	94		pursuant to this subsection, a licensing or certification authority
101	95		shall consider:
102	96		1. The nature and seriousness of the offense;
103	97		2. The amount of time that has passed since the offense;
104	98		3. The age of the person at the time the offense was committed;
105	99		4. Evidence relevant to the circumstances of the offense
106	100		including any aggravating or mitigating circumstances of social
107	101		conditions surroundin g the commission of the offense;
108	102		5. The nature of the specific duties and responsibilities for
109	103		which the license or certification is required; and
110	104		6. Any evidence of rehabilitation submitted by the applicant
111	105		including, but not limited to, evidence relate d to the person's
112	106		compliance with any conditions of community supervision, parole, or
113	107		mandatory supervision, the conduct and work activity of the person,
	108	+	programming, or treatment undertaken by the person, and testimonials
	109	+	or personal reference statements.
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141		-	programming, or treatment undertaken by the person, and testimoni als
142		-	or personal reference statements.
143	136		C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensing or
144	137		certification authority shall not deny a state license or state
145	138		certification to practice an occupation due to:
146	139		1. An arrest that was not followed by a valid plea of guilty or
147	140		nolo contendere unless charges are currently pending;
148	141		2. A conviction that has been sealed, or expunged;
149	142		3. A conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere for which
150	143		more than five (5) years have elapsed since the date of conviction,
151	144		plea, or release from incarcerati on, whichever is later, so long as
152	145		the person has not been convicted of a new crime. This paragraph
153	146		shall not apply to any conviction or plea of guilty or nolo
154	147		contendere for:
155	148		a. an offense enumerated in Section 571 of Title 57 of
156	149		the Oklahoma Statutes,
157	150		b. a felony involving domestic assault, domestic assault
158	151		and battery, or domestic abuse as defined in Section
159	152		644 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
160	153		c. an offense that would require registration as a sex
161	154		offender pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registratio n
162	155		Act, or
163	156		d. any equivalent law enumerated in this paragraph from
164	157		another jurisdiction; or
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192	184		4. A finding that an applicant lacks good character or fails to
193	185		meet any other similarly vague standard where a criminal conviction
194	186		is the basis for the finding.
195	187		D. Before a state licensing or state certification authority
196	188		makes a final determination that a criminal conviction, plea of
197	189		guilty or nolo contendere, or pending criminal charge may disqualify
198	190		an applicant for licensure, that authority shall provide writte n
199	191		notice of:
200	192		1. The specific offense that is the basis for the intended
201	193		denial;
202	194		2. The reasons the offense was determined to substantially
203	195		relate to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation and
204	196		posed a reasonable threat to public safety, health, or welfare,
205	197		including findings for each of the factors in subsection B of this
206	198		section that the licensing or certification a uthority deemed
207	199		relevant to the determination; and
208	200		3. The right to submit additional evidence relevant to each of
209	201		the factors listed in subsection B of this section within thirty
210	202		(30) days, which the licensing or certification authority shall
211	203		consider before issuing a final determination.
212	204		E. A final determination that a criminal conviction, plea of
213	205		guilty or nolo contendere, or pend ing criminal charge may prevent a
214	206		person from receiving a license shall be in writing and include
215	207		notice of the right to appe al the determination pursuant to the
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243	234		Administrative Procedures Act, or a more specific statutory
244	235		authority, and notice of the earli est date the applicant may reapply
245	236		for a license.
246	237		F. A person with a criminal history record may request a
247	238		determination of whether his or her criminal history record may
248	239		disqualify him or her from obtaining the desired license or
249	240		certification in the occ upation from a state licensing or state
250	241		certification authority at any time, including before obtaining any
251	242		required education or training for such occupation. The request
252	243		shall be in writing and shall include either a copy of the person's
253	244		criminal history record with explanation of each conviction
254	245		mentioned in the criminal history record or a statement describing
255	246		each criminal conviction including the date of each conviction, the
256	247		court of jurisdiction and the sentence imposed. The person may
257	248		include a statement with his or her request describing additional
258	249		information for consideration by the licensing or certification
259	250		authority including, but not limited to, information relevant to any
260	251		of the factors for consideration described in subsection B of this
261	252		section.
262	253		G. Upon receipt of a written request for consideration of a
263	254		criminal history record for an occupation as provided in subsection
264	255		F of this section, the licensing or certification authority shall
265	256		evaluate the request and make a determination based up on the
266	257		information provided in such request whether the stated conviction
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294	284		is a disqualifying offense for the occupation. A n otice of the
295	285		determination shall be issued to the petitioner within sixty (60)
296	286		days from the date such request was received by the licensing or
297	287		certification authority; except, however, a licensing or
298	288		certification authority regulating fifty thousand or more members in
299	289		its occupation shall be allowed ninety (90) days to make its initial
300	290		determination and issue notice to the requestor.
301	291		H. A determination made pursuant to subsection F of this
302	292		subsection that a person may not be disqualified for licensure or
303	293		certification due to criminal history shall be binding upon a
304	294		licensing or certification authority unless, at the time a full
305	295		application for a license is submitted, the applicant has
306	296		subsequently pled guilty or nolo contendere to a crime, has pending
307	297		criminal charges, or has previously undisclosed criminal
308	298		convictions.
309	299		I. The notice of a determination made pursuant to subsection F
310	300		of this section shall be in writing and mailed to the requestor at
311	301		the address provided in his or her request, and shall conta in the
312	302		following statements:
313	303		1. Whether the person is eligible for licensure or
314	304		certification in the occupation at the current tim e based upon the
315	305		information submitted by the requestor;
316	306		2. Whether there is a disqualifying offense that would
317	307		disqualify the person from engaging in the occupation at the current
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345	334		time and a statement identifying such offense in the criminal
346	335		history record or information submitted for consideration;
347	336		3. Any actions the person may take to remedy a
348	337		disqualification, if any;
349	338		4. The earliest date the person may submit another request for
350	339		consideration, if any; and
351	340		5. A statement that the determination may b e rescinded if, at
352	341		the time a full application for a license is submitted, the
353	342		applicant has subsequently pled guilty or nolo contendere to a
354	343		crime, has pending criminal charges, or has previously undisclosed
355	344		criminal convictions.
356	345		J. A state entity charge d with oversight of an occupational
357	346		license or certification may promulgate forms for requests for
358	347		determinations for the occ upation as authorized in subsection F of
359	348		this section. Each state licensing or certification authority may
360	349		charge a fee not to exc eed Ninety-five Dollars ($95.00) for each
361	350		initial determination of eligibility it makes for the occupation
362	351		based upon the information provided by the requestor.
363	352		K. Each state licensing or state certification authority shall
364	353		include in its application for a license or certification and
365	354		publish on its public website the following information:
366	355		1. Whether the criminal offenses of applicants may be used as a
367	356		basis for denial;
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395	383		2. If criminal history may be used as a basis for denial as
396	384		listed in subsection B o f this section, which offenses the licensing
397	385		or certification authority shall consider; and
398	386		3. Notice of the right to request a determination pursuant to
399	387		subsection F of this section.
400	388		L. Each state licensing or state certification authority
401	389		authorized to consider the criminal conviction of an applicant shall
402	390		annually provide to the Legislature, and publish on its public
403	391		website, the following:
404	392		1. The number of license applications received;
405	393		2. The number of applications that resulted in a license being
406	394		granted;
407	395		3. The number of applications that resulted in a license being
408	396		denied;
409	397		4. The number of applications that were denied due to criminal
410	398		history;
411	399		5. A list of criminal offenses reported by individuals who were
412	400		granted a license;
413	401		6. A list of criminal offenses reported by individuals who were
414	402		denied a license due to criminal history along with the time elapsed
415	403		since the commission of the offense; and
416	404		7. The number of petitions received by the licensing or
417	405		certification authority pursuant to subsec tion F of this section.
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445	432		M. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to
446	433		apply to the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, the
447	434		Bail Bonds Division of the Insurance Department, the State Board of
448	435		Education, the boards of examiners which are established in Title 20
449	436		of the Oklahoma Statutes, the State Board of Medical Licensure and
450	437		Supervision, the Oklahoma Accountancy Board, or individuals applying
451	438		to these authorities for licensure or certification.
452	439		SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
453		-	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND INSURANCE
454		-	April 10, 2025 - DO PASS
	440	+	Passed the House of Representatives the 11th day of March, 2025.
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	443	+
	444	+
	445	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	446	+	of Representatives
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	449	+
	450	+	Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025.
	451	+
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	453	+
	454	+
	455	+	Presiding Officer of the Se nate
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