SF0042

Official summary

Bill Summary Bill No.: SF0042 Effective : 7/1/2018 LSO No.: 18LSO-0023 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0063 Chapter No.: 107 Prime Sponsor: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee Catch Title: Professional licensing-applicant criminal records. Subject: Stating policy and amending statutes so that a person's criminal record shall not automatically disqualify the person from being licensed or certified for a profession or occupation and specifying that a disqualifying offense shall relate to the profession or occupation. Summary/Major Elements: This bill prohibits those who adjudicate professional or occupational licensing, certification or registration applications from imposing a blanket denial due to an applicant's criminal record and states supporting public policy . A disqualifying criminal offense must relate to the profession or occupation or to the ability to practice the profession or occupation before disqualification may be considered . The bill also provides that a board, commission, commissioner or authority may only consider evidence of a convictio n more than twenty years old in limited situations. Many licensing statutes already use terminology to allow a board, commission, commissioner or authority discretion to consider an applicant's background, without requiring a blanket denial because of a criminal record . This bill amends statutes that did not afford a board, commission, commissioner or authority discretion and specifies that a disqualifying offense must relate to the profession or occupation or to the ability to practice the profession or occupation . The bill requires professional licensing boards, commissions, commissioners and authorities to review their rules for consistency with the bill. The bill provides immunity from civil liability for any board, commission, commissioner or authority acting in accordance with the statutory provisions created by the bill (W.S. 33-1-304). The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill .