Committee advances bill to standardize how licensing boards consider criminal records

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 207, a measure to standardize how state occupational licensing boards consider criminal histories when deciding eligibility for licenses.

Senator Strickland summarized the bill as a continuation and cleanup of legislation the Senate considered last year. The bill confirms that boards may consider felonies and certain covered misdemeanors and requires a finding of a direct and substantial risk to public safety tied to the duties of the occupation before denying licensure. It establishes administrative due‑process protections, an appeal pathway, and a predetermination process so prospective applicants can learn, before investing in training or education, whether a prior conviction is likely to bar them from a chosen occupation. The bill would also require boards to provide clearer online information about their processes and create public reporting about how criminal records affect licensure decisions.

Senator Strickland noted the bill includes three ‘‘cleanups’’ to last year’s record‑restriction laws: ensuring vacatur petitions by trafficking survivors remain sealed; clarifying whether Department of Corrections records are covered; and clarifying that prosecutors’ records regarding sealed convictions are not subject to open‑records disclosure. Supporters listed included the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Georgia Justice Project.

Only one person testified in the committee hearing on SB 207 and voiced support. The committee took a motion to pass LC 492185; Senator Watson moved passage and Senator Parent seconded. The committee voted to advance the bill unanimously.