This bill amends the Public Health Code by introducing a new procedure for individuals seeking a preliminary determination regarding the impact of court judgments on their ability to obtain a license or registration based on good moral character. The bill specifies that individuals can request this determination by submitting a form that identifies the license or registration in question, details any relevant criminal proceedings, and includes a nonrefundable fee. The department will consider only the information provided in the request for the determination, although individuals may include additional information for consideration. Importantly, an adverse preliminary determination does not prevent the individual from applying for the license or registration, and the department is not bound by a favorable preliminary determination if the individual has subsequent felony convictions or undisclosed criminal convictions.

Additionally, the bill updates the reporting requirements for disciplinary actions taken against licensed individuals. It mandates that the department publish a list of disciplined individuals and report these actions to various state and federal agencies, as well as professional associations. The bill also requires that licensees or registrants notify patients of any revocation or suspension of their license, with specific guidelines on how and when this notification should occur. Furthermore, the department is tasked with providing an annual report to the legislature detailing disciplinary actions, including the number of applications denied due to lack of good moral character, along with a summary of the criminal convictions that led to those denials.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 333.16174, 333.16241