HB 117

Bill Subjects

Boards And Commissions Economic Development Effective Dates, Delayed Fees Labor And Industry Licensing Public Officers And Employees Reports Mandated

Abstract

Amend KRS 335B.010 to define terms related to licensing and public employment qualifications; amend KRS 335B.020 to narrow the class of offenses to which the chapter applies, to add consideration of the age of the person at the time the crime was committed, the evidence relevant to the circumstances of the crime, and evidence of rehabilitation in making licensure decisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 335B to prohibit disqualifying individuals from pursing a professional license solely due to conviction that has been sealed or expunged, convictions older than five years unless the conviction falls under an exception, or a finding that the applicant lacks good character; amend KRS 335B.030 to require a hiring or licensing authority that denies an individual a professional license due to a prior conviction of a crime to notify the individual in writing of the specific offense that is the basis of the denial, the reasons the offense was determined to directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation and posed a reasonable threat to public safety, and that the applicant has a right to submit additional information within 30 days which the licensing authority is required to consider; create new sections of KRS Chapter 335B to allow a person with a prior conviction of a crime to request an initial determination regarding whether a prior conviction of crime would disqualify the individual from licensure and require that this initial determination is binding on the hiring or licensing authority; require each hiring or licensing authority to publish information on its website pertaining to applicants with a prior conviction of a crime; require each hiring or licensing authority that is authorized to consider the criminal conviction of an applicant to provide an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission; amend various sections of KRS Chapters 309, 317A, and 327 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025.