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Senate approves bill to create preliminary eligibility checks for licensure applicants with criminal histories
Summary
On March 7, 2025, the New York State Senate passed a bill (Counter 257, Senate Print 1048) to add a preliminary, low-cost review process under the Correction Law so applicants can learn whether a criminal record would disqualify them from a professional license.
The New York State Senate passed a bill on March 7, 2025 (Counter 257, Senate Print 1048) to add a preliminary eligibility review under the Correction Law that would allow prospective applicants to learn in advance whether their criminal history would bar them from a professional license.
Senator Lola J. Salazar, speaking before the vote, said the bill "establishes a preliminary process for applicants to determine in advance whether their criminal history would disqualify them from obtaining a particular professional license" and described the process as a "low cost procedure that offers certainty before the applicant commits to a longer, more arduous process of obtaining a license." She said the change would increase transparency and fairness for people with prior criminal justice involvement.
Senator Joseph Martin explained his negative vote on the bill, saying he opposed provisions that he viewed as prioritizing people with criminal records over "law-abiding citizens," and expressed concern about certain licenses, including ones related to alcohol service and child care. Martin said, "I draw the line in favor of those law-abiding citizens who have expected that our laws would be complied with."
The roll call recorded 42 ayes and 18 nays; the transcript listed senators who voted no. The senate announced "The bill is passed." The bill text as read in the Senate included a provision stating the act would take effect immediately (Section 4 read on the floor).
The legislation, as described on the floor, would let applicants submit a preliminary application and receive a determination about eligibility before beginning the full licensing process. Supporters said this would reduce wasted time and expense for applicants and improve fairness in licensure decisions; opponents raised public-safety and standards concerns for certain license categories.
The Senate's passage moves the measure forward in the legislative process; the transcript does not record subsequent legislative steps such as enrollment, assembly concurrence, or the governor's action.
Votes at the time of the floor action were recorded by roll call; the Senate announced the result and recorded negative votes by name in the transcript.
