13:1E-133.1 - Rehabilitated ex-offenders, licensing
13:1E-133.1. Rehabilitated ex-offenders, licensing
7. a. Notwithstanding the conviction of any person required to be listed in a disclosure statement, or otherwise shown to have a beneficial interest in the business of an applicant, permittee or licensee for any of the crimes enumerated in subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1983, c.392 (C.13:1E-133), the department may issue or renew a license to an applicant, permittee or licensee if the department determines in a writing setting forth findings of fact that the convicted person has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence pursuant to the provisions of this section. If the department determines that the nature and seriousness of the crime creates a reasonable doubt that an applicant, permittee, or licensee will engage in the activity for which a license is sought in a lawful and responsible manner, the department shall make a determination in a writing setting forth findings of fact that the convicted person cannot affirmatively demonstrate rehabilitation.
b. In determining whether a convicted individual has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the department shall request a recommendation thereon from the Attorney General, which recommendation shall be in writing and based upon a consideration of at least the following factors:
(1) The nature and responsibilities of the position which a convicted individual would hold;
(2) The nature and seriousness of the crime;
(3) The circumstances under which the crime was committed;
(4) The date of the crime;
(5) The age of the convicted individual when the crime was committed;
(6) Whether the crime was an isolated or repeated act;
(7) Any evidence of good conduct in the community, counseling or psychiatric treatment received, acquisition of additional academic or vocational schooling, or the recommendation of persons who have supervised the convicted individual since the conviction; and
(8) The full criminal record of the convicted individual, any record of civil or regulatory violations or notices or any complaints alleging any such civil or regulatory violations, or any other allegations of wrongdoing.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a convicted individual shall have affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation pursuant to the provisions of this section if the convicted individual produces evidence of a pardon issued by the Governor of this or any other state, or evidence of the expungement of every conviction for any of the crimes enumerated in subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1983, c.392 (C.13:1E-133).
c. In determining whether a convicted business concern has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the department shall request a recommendation thereon from the Attorney General, which recommendation shall be in writing and based upon a consideration of at least the following factors:
(1) The nature and seriousness of the crime;
(2) The circumstances under which the crime was committed;
(3) The date of the crime;
(4) Whether the crime was an isolated or repeated act; and
(5) The full criminal record of the convicted business concern, any record of civil or regulatory violations or notices or any complaints alleging any such civil or regulatory violations, or any other allegations of wrongdoing.
d. The Attorney General may require, as a predicate to a determination that a convicted business concern has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, that the convicted business concern agree, in writing, to an investigation of the crime or crimes committed by the convicted business concern which caused disqualification pursuant to subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1983, c.392 (C.13:1E-133), the persons involved in the crime, and any corporate policies, procedures, and organizational structure that may have led to the crime. At the conclusion of this investigation a report shall be prepared identifying the underlying conduct giving rise to any criminal convictions and any steps that have subsequently been taken by the convicted business concern to prevent a recurrence of the criminal activity, and recommending any steps that may be deemed necessary to prevent a recurrence of the criminal activity. The investigation shall be conducted by, or on behalf of, the Attorney General, and the cost thereof shall be borne by the convicted business concern.
The Attorney General may require, on the basis of this investigation and as a condition of recommending that a convicted business concern has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, that a convicted business concern comply, or agree in writing to comply, with any of the following:
(1) changes in the convicted business concern's organizational structure to reduce the opportunity and motivation of individual employees to engage in criminal activity, including procedures for informing employees of the requirements of relevant state and federal law;
(2) changes in the convicted business concern's long and short term planning to ensure that the convicted business concern implements procedures and policies to prevent future violations of the law;
(3) changes in the convicted business concern's legal, accounting, or other internal or external control and monitoring procedures to discourage or prevent future violations of state or federal law;
(4) changes in the convicted business concern's ownership, control, personnel, and personnel selection practices, including the removal of any person shown to have a beneficial interest in the convicted business concern, and the imposition of a reward or disincentive system in order to encourage employees to comply with relevant state and federal law;
(5) post-licensing monitoring of the convicted business concern's activities relating to any changes in policy, procedure, or structure required by the Attorney General pursuant to this subsection, the cost of such monitoring to be borne by the convicted business concern; and
(6) any other requirements deemed necessary by the Attorney General.
e. The department shall not determine that a convicted business concern has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation if the convicted business concern has not complied, or agreed in writing to comply, with every requirement imposed by the Attorney General pursuant to subsection d. of this section.
L.1991,c.269,s.7.