SB233 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Occupational licensing, providing for waiver of licensing fees for certain applicants, requiring licensing authorities to clarify crimes for which a conviction could result in a denial of an application, providing for a denial review process and an avenue to challenge denials, Sec. 31-1-6 am'd.

Summary

SB 233 would waive initial licensing fees for certain applicants, limit criminal-conviction-based licensing denials to crimes directly related to the occupation, and require licensing authorities to clearly list disqualifying crimes and provide a review/appeal process, plus updates to the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act.

What This Bill Does

SB 233 would require licensing authorities to waive initial licensing fees for specific groups (low-income individuals, public assistance participants, active duty military and spouses, surviving spouses, and young workers) and to process those waivers within 30 days. It would ban automatic disqualification based on a criminal conviction unless the crime directly relates to the job, and it would require each licensing authority to list which crimes could disqualify an applicant and to review eligibility for those convicted. If a license is denied, the authority must provide a detailed written explanation and allow the applicant to challenge the decision, including a hearing, with rules about time limits and rehabilitation considerations. It also updates the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act to align exemptions and expand options like temporary permits and reciprocity.

Who It Affects

• Eligible applicants for occupational licenses who meet income, military, or age-based criteria (e.g., public assistance or poverty level, active duty military personnel and spouses, surviving spouses, and young workers) who will have initial licensing fees waived.
• Individuals with criminal convictions seeking professional licenses, who gain protections and a structured review/appeal process, including criteria to determine if their conviction disqualifies them and opportunities to challenge denials.

Key Provisions

• Waiver of initial occupational and licensing fees for predefined groups: public assistance, income at or below 130% of poverty level, active duty military personnel, their spouses, surviving spouses, and young workers.
• Licensing authorities must process fee waivers within 30 days and adopt necessary implementing rules.
• No disqualification from pursuing or practicing a licensed occupation due to a criminal conviction unless the crime directly relates to duties/responsibilities of the occupation.
• Within 150 days, each licensing authority must adopt rules listing every crime that could disqualify an applicant for each license level.
• For convictions that could disqualify, the licensing authority must consider crime nature/seriousness, time since offense, relation to duties, and rehabilitation evidence; disqualification generally limited to five years (with exceptions for violent/sexual crimes and incarceration timing).
• Applicants with potentially disqualifying convictions may petition for determination; response within 30 days; a $25 fee allowed; if denied, reasons, hearing rights, earliest reapplication date, and rehabilitation considerations must be provided.
• The licensing authority bears the burden of proof in hearings that the conviction directly relates to the occupation.
• Updates to the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act to improve exemptions, fee waivers, temporary permits (at least 180 days), reciprocity with other states, and exclusion of certain professions from MFJOA provisions.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Licenses