AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health care.
Summary
SB2555 amends Tennessee’s health care licensing law to allow an individual, before formally applying for a license, certification, or registration, to request a written or electronic determination from the relevant licensing authority about whether the person would be qualified based on criminal history. If the authority concludes the person is disqualified because of criminal history, it must provide a written notice explaining the reasons and justification for that decision.
The bill also clarifies that this pre-application determination is limited only to criminal history and does not prevent the licensing authority from denying a later application on other lawful grounds. In addition, the bill updates existing law to allow these requests and notices to be made electronically, not just in writing.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-130, which governs advance review of criminal-history-related eligibility for professional licensing, certification, or registration. It expands the process to include electronic requests and electronic notices, and it reinforces the requirement that licensing authorities provide reasons when they find an applicant disqualified due to criminal history. The change affects state licensing boards and individuals seeking entry into regulated health care and other licensed professions under Title 63.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a straightforward administrative and procedural update rather than a controversial policy change. Its stated purpose is to improve clarity and access to pre-application eligibility determinations, especially for people with criminal records who want to know their prospects before applying.
Contention
No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no documented opposition or support to identify from the available record. The main policy point embedded in the bill is the balance between giving applicants clearer advance notice about criminal-history barriers and preserving licensing authorities’ discretion to deny applications on other grounds. Any contention would likely center on how much transparency licensing boards should provide and how broadly criminal history should affect occupational licensing.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 48; Title 49; Title 52; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 48; Title 49; Title 52; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health.