HB2308 - 562R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 41-1033, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1033. Petition for a rule or review of an agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule, unduly burdensome licensing requirement or license or certificate denial, suspension or revocation; notice; definitions

A. Any person may petition an agency to do either of the following:

1. Make, amend or repeal a final rule.

2. Review an existing agency practice or substantive policy statement that the petitioner alleges to constitute a rule.

B. An agency shall prescribe the form of the petition and the procedures for the petition's submission, consideration and disposition. The person shall state on the petition the rulemaking to review or the agency practice or substantive policy statement to consider revising, repealing or making into a rule.

C. Not later than sixty days after submission of the petition, the agency shall either:

1. Reject the petition and state its reasons in writing for rejection to the petitioner.

2. Initiate rulemaking proceedings in accordance with this chapter.

3. If otherwise lawful, make a rule.

D. The agency's response to the petition is open to public inspection.

E. If an agency rejects a petition pursuant to subsection C of this section, the petitioner has thirty days to appeal to the council to review whether the existing agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule. The petitioner's appeal may not be more than five double-spaced pages.

F. A person may petition the council to request a review of a final rule based on the person's belief that the final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030. A petition submitted under this subsection may not be more than five double-spaced pages.

G. A person may petition the council to request a review of an existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement that the petitioner alleges is not specifically authorized by statute, exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is unduly burdensome or is not demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety or welfare concern. On receipt of a properly submitted petition pursuant to this section, the council shall review the existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement as prescribed by this section. A petition submitted under this subsection may not be more than five double-spaced pages. This subsection does not apply to an individual or institution that is subject to title 36, chapter 4, article 10 or chapter 20.

H. A PERSON MAY PETITION THE COUNCIL TO REQUEST A REVIEW OF AN occupational or professional licensing board's or health profession regulatory board's DENIAL, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE, registration or certificate FOR A PRIOR CRIMINAL OFFENSE PURSUANT TO SECTION 41-1093.08. ON RECEIPT OF A PROPERLY SUBMITTED PETITION PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION, THE COUNCIL SHALL REVIEW THE DENIAL, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION AND INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINE WHETHER THE OFFENSE IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE APPLICANT'S, LICENSEE'S, registrant's or certificate holder's OCCUPATION OR IF approving or not imposing a disciplinary action against THE LICENSE, registration OR CERTIFICATE WOULD POSE A REASONABLE THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. A petition submitted under this subsection may not be more than five double-spaced pages.

H. I. If the council receives information that alleges an existing agency practice or substantive policy statement may constitute a rule, that a final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030 or that an existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not specifically authorized by statute or does not meet the guidelines prescribed in subsection G of this section, or if the council receives an appeal under subsection E of this section, and at least three council members request of the chairperson that the matter be heard in a public meeting:

1. Within ninety days after receiving the third council member's request, the council shall determine whether any of the following applies:

(a) The agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule.

(b) The final rule meets the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030.

(c) An existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not specifically authorized by statute or meets does not meet the guidelines prescribed in subsection G of this section.

2. Within ten days after receiving the third council member's request, the council shall notify the agency that the matter has been or will be placed on the council's agenda for consideration on the merits.

3. Not later than thirty days after receiving notice from the council, the agency shall submit a statement of not more than five double-spaced pages to the council that addresses whether any of the following applies:

(a) The existing agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule.

(b) The final rule meets the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030.

(c) An existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not specifically authorized by statute or meets the guidelines prescribed in subsection G of this section.

I. J. At the hearing, the council shall allocate the petitioner and the agency an equal amount of time for oral comments, not including any time spent answering questions raised by council members. The council may also allocate time for members of the public who have an interest in the issue to provide oral comments.

J. K. For the purposes of subsection H I of this section, the council meeting shall not be scheduled until the expiration of the agency response period prescribed in subsection H I, paragraph 3 of this section.

K. L. An agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement considered by the council pursuant to this section shall remain in effect while under consideration of the council. If the council determines that the agency practice, substantive policy statement or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not authorized by statute or constitutes a rule or that the final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030, the practice, policy statement, rule or regulatory licensing requirement shall be void. If the council determines that the existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement is unduly burdensome or is not demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety or welfare concern, the council shall modify, revise or declare void any such existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement. If an agency decides to further pursue a practice, substantive policy statement or regulatory licensing requirement that has been declared void or has been modified or revised by the council, the agency may do so only pursuant to a new rulemaking.

L. M. A council decision pursuant to this section shall be made by a majority of the council members who are present and voting on the issue. Notwithstanding any other law, the council may not base any decision concerning an agency's compliance with the requirements of section 41-1030 in issuing a final rule or substantive policy statement on whether any party or person commented on the rulemaking or substantive policy statement.

M. N. A decision by the council pursuant to this section is not subject to judicial review, except that, in addition to the procedure prescribed in this section or in lieu of the procedure prescribed in this section, a person may seek declaratory relief pursuant to section 41-1034.

N. O. Each agency and the secretary of state shall post prominently on their websites notice of an individual's right to petition the council for review pursuant to this section.

P. For the purposes of this section:

1. "REASONABLE THREAT" HAS THE SAME MEANING PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 41-1093.08.

2. "SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED" HAS THE SAME MEANING PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 41-1093.08. END STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 41-1093.04, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1093.04. Occupational license, permit or certificate or other state recognition rights; petition for review of criminal record; annual report

A. A person with a criminal record may petition an agency, at any time, including before obtaining any required education or experience, taking any examination or paying any fee, for a determination of whether the person's criminal record disqualifies the person from obtaining a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition.

B. In the petition, the person shall include:

1. The person's complete criminal history record or authorization for the agency to obtain the person's criminal history record.

2. Any additional information about the person's current circumstances, including the time since the offense was committed and the sentence was completed, the payment of any court-ordered restitution, evidence of rehabilitation, testimonials, employment history and employment aspirations.

C. The agency shall determine whether the person's criminal record disqualifies the person from obtaining a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition.

D. Notwithstanding any other law or rule, the agency may determine that the person's criminal record disqualifies the person from obtaining a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition only if the agency concludes that the state has an important interest in protecting public safety that is superior to the person's right and either of the following applies:

1. The person was convicted of any of the following, the conviction occurred within seven years before the date of the petition, excluding any period of time that the person was imprisoned in the custody of the state department of corrections, and the conviction has not been set aside:

(a) A felony offense.

(b) A violent crime as defined in section 13-901.03.

(c) An offense included in title 13, chapter 20, 21 or 22 or section 13-2310 or 13-2311 if the license, permit, certificate or other state recognition is for an occupation in which the applicant would owe a fiduciary duty to a client.

2. The person was, at any time, convicted of either of the following:

(a) An offense that a law specifically requires the agency to consider when issuing a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition and the conviction has not been set aside.

(b) A dangerous offense as defined in section 13-105, a serious offense as defined in section 13-706, a dangerous crime against children as defined in section 13-705 or an offense included in title 13, chapter 14 or 35.1, and the conviction has not been set aside.

E. To conclude that the state has an important interest in protecting public safety that is superior to the person's right, as required by subsection D of this section, the agency must determine by clear and convincing evidence at the time of the petition that both of the following apply:

1. The specific offense that the person was convicted of:

(a) for an occupational or professional licensing board or a health profession regulatory board, substantially relates to the occupation or approval would pose a reasonable threat to public health and safety as prescribed by section 41-1093.08.

(b) For all other agencies, substantially relates to the state's interest and specifically and directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation, except offenses involving moral turpitude.

2. The person, based on the nature of the specific offense that the person was convicted of and the person's current circumstances, including the passage of time since the person committed the crime offense and any evidence of rehabilitation or treatment, is more likely to reoffend by virtue of having the license, permit, certificate or other state recognition than if the person did not have the license, permit, certificate or other state recognition.

F. In determining if a person's criminal record disqualifies the person from obtaining a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition, the agency may not consider negatively any of the following:

1. Nonconviction information, including information related to a deferred adjudication, participation in a diversion program or an arrest that was not followed by a conviction.

2. A conviction that has been sealed, dismissed, expunged or pardoned.

3. A juvenile adjudication.

4. A nonviolent misdemeanor.

G. The agency shall issue a determination on the petition within ninety days after the agency receives the petition. The determination on the petition must be in writing and include all of the following:

1. Findings of fact and conclusions of law.

2. The grounds and reasons for the determination if the person's criminal history disqualifies the person.

H. If the agency determines that the state's interest to protect public safety is superior to the person's right, the agency may advise the person of the actions that the person may take to remedy the disqualification, including:

1. An appeal of the determination as provided in title 12, chapter 7, article 6.

2. The earliest date the person may submit a new petition to the agency, which must be not later than two years after the final determination of the initial petition.

I. subject to section 41-1093.08, if applicable, the agency shall rescind the determination any time after the determination is made but before issuing a license, permit, certificate or other state recognition if the person is convicted of an additional offense that is included in subsection D of this section.

J. Subsection D and subsection F, paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of this section do not apply to any of the following:

1. Any law enforcement agency or the Arizona peace officer standards and training board.

2. Any license or registration certificate that is issued pursuant to title 32, chapter 24 or 26.

3. Any certification, license or permit that is issued pursuant to title 15.

4. Statutory requirements for a fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to chapter 12, article 3.1 of this title.

5. Any criteria for license, permit or certificate eligibility that is established by an interstate compact.

K. Each agency shall submit a report on or before July 1 of each year to the governor and the legislature and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state. The report shall include the following information for the previous calendar year:

1. The number of applicants who petitioned the agency for a determination.

2. The number of petitions that were granted and the types of offenses at issue.

3. The number of petitions that were denied and the types of offenses at issue.

4. The number of determinations that were rescinded.

L. An agency shall adopt forms for petitions as prescribed in subsections A and B of this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 41-1093.06, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1093.06. Occupational licenses; drug offense conviction; eligibility; exceptions; definition

A. Notwithstanding any other law, an agency may not deny to an otherwise qualified applicant who has been convicted of an offense that involves a violation of title 13, chapter 34 or 34.1 or an offense committed in another jurisdiction that has the same elements as an offense listed in title 13, chapter 34 or 34.1 either of the following:

1. The regular occupational license for which the applicant applied.

2. A provisional occupational license.

B. This section does not apply to the following:

1. The state board of education for the purposes of certification of persons pursuant to section 15-501.01.

2. A health profession regulatory board as defined in section 32-3201.

3. The department of health services for the purposes of title 36, chapter 28.1.

4. A law enforcement agency and the Arizona peace officer standards and training board.

C. This section does not prohibit an occupational or professional licensing board or health profession regulatory board from denying an occupational license to an applicant who has been convicted of the offenses prescribed in subsection A of this section if the offense is substantially related to the occupation as prescribed by section 41-1093.08.

C. D. For the purposes of this section, "occupational license" means any agency permit, certificate, approval, registration or charter or any similar form of permission that allows an individual to use an occupational title or work in a lawful occupation, trade or profession. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Title 41, chapter 6, article 11, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1093.08, to read:

START_STATUTE41-1093.08. Occupational or professional licensing boards; health profession regulatory boards; denial, suspension or revocation; prior criminal offense; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law, an occupational or professional licensing board or health profession regulatory board may not deny, suspend or revoke a license, registration or certificate for an applicant's, licensee's, registrant's or certificate holder's prior criminal offense unless either:

1. The offense is substantially related to the occupation.

2. Approving or not imposing disciplinary action against the license, registration or certificate would pose a reasonable threat to public health and safety.

B. In addition to other available remedies, an applicant, licensee, registrant or certificate holder may petition the governor's regulatory review council pursuant to section 41-1033, subsection H to request a review of a denial, suspension or revocation of a license, registration or certificate.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Health profession regulatory board" has the same meaning prescribed in section 32-3201.

2. "Reasonable threat" means the criminal conduct the person was convicted of involved an act or threat of harm against another person and has a direct bearing on the person's ability to safely serve the public or work with others in the occupation.

3. "substantially related" means has a direct bearing on the ability to perform any duties or responsibilities related to the occupation. END STATUTE