Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such…

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Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such license based on criminal history

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action May 5, 2026

Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such license based on criminal history; establishes time frames for public agencies to respond to such applications; requires public agencies to report information regarding granting licenses annually.

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Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A875, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Correction Law.

Committee

Correction · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section 1 sets the title of the legislation as the "Preliminary License Application Navigation (PLAN) Act". Section 2 amends the correction law by adding section 756 to include the following provisions: Subdivision 1 - Definitions. Subdivision 2 - Establishes that this act only applies to public agen- cies that already consider a license applicant's criminal history as part of a license application process and does not expand any agency's ability to collect or consider such information on applicants. Subdivision 3 - Requires public agencies that already consider a license applicant's criminal history as part of a license application to post in plain terms on their website information how such agency considers an applicant's criminal history when an applicant seeks a license, includ- ing explanations as to what types of information can be considered in determining eligibility for a license and what information cannot be considered. Subdivision 4 - Establishes that a person can submit a preliminary license application for a determination as to whether the individual's criminal history would bar them from the license. Subdivision 5 - Establishes that a person can submit a preliminary license application at any time, and that the public agency must have a readily available form that details the process, a standard maximum fee of $25, information as to what is allowed to be accessed during the preliminary application regarding criminal history, and that new prelim- inary applications may be submitted at any time during the process if their circumstances change. Subdivision 6 - Requires that the public agency begin the process of evaluating the eligibility of a person once they receive the preliminary license application. Subdivision 7 - Establishes the process for the preliminary license application, including that the agency must inform the applicant in writing if they are deemed ineligible and specify any additional infor- mation the applicant can provide that could result in their eligibility, and permits an applicant to request a hearing where a hearing process already exists for the denial of a license application. Subdivision 8 - Establishes that an applicant may seek judicial review after a hearing by an Article 78 proceeding. Subdivision 9 - Prohibits any person or entity from requiring any person to submit a preliminary license application or to discriminate against a person based on their decision to submit or not submit such an applica- tion. Subdivision 10 - Requires public agencies keep all information obtained through a preliminary license application process confidential. Subdivision 11 - Allows public agencies to promulgate rules and regu- lations, regarding their preliminary license application process. Subdivision 12 - Requires public agencies to publish annual reports relating to preliminary license applications. Section 3 - Establishes that the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York City Commission on Human Rights shall have the power to enforce rights protected by Section 755 of the correction law. Section 4 - Sets the effective date.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(44) (18) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(17) (5) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionFeb 4, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 10, 2025Result: passed
(43) (18) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionFeb 4, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

The sponsor's argument

Why Julia Salazar says this is needed

Under current law, an individual who might be disqualified from obtain- ing an occupational license based on prior criminal history has no way to ascertain in advance whether they would face disqualification. This bill corrects this faulty process by establishing a method of obtaining an advance determination of eligibility. Applying for occupational licenses in New York State is opaque and confusing in a way that needlessly discourages many potential appli- cants. Currently, 25% of jobs require an occupational license. While it is essential for certain jobs to have a formal evaluation process for candidates, it is also essential to be transparent about the require- ments for those jobs. The lack of transparency tends to adversely impact women and people of color, especially those who have been incarcerated. When requirements are outlined, they are often vague. For example, the requirements to become a Licensed Master Social Worker state that the person must be of "good moral standing". The statute does not define what a good moral standing is and can be left to different interpreta- tions depending on who is sitting on the licensing board. Because of this, people with criminal records experience barriers when it comes to applying for licenses. There are often no guidelines to indicate what the requirements are and whether an applicant with a crim- inal record will be disqualified. This can cause people with criminal records to spend time and money on a license they have no chance of receiving; conversely, it can discourage people with criminal records from applying for licenses they might be eligible for. Requiring trans- parency and an opportunity for an advanced determination of eligibility would ensure that potential applicants have accurate and relevant infor- mation to inform their decisions on career paths, whether they have been incarcerated or not. Approximately 28% of women in the workforce are in jobs requiring occu- pational licenses, as opposed to 23% of men. This, coupled with the fact that many of the fastest-growing professions are dominated by women, means that women are disproportionately regulated in the workforce. These disparities can be especially stark for women of color who have been formerly incarcerated, as their unemployment rates are 43.6%, almost double the overall 27% unemployment rate for formerly incarcerat- ed individuals. (The overall unemployment rate in New York is 4.4%, which demonstrates the difficulties faced by all formerly incarcerated individuals.) The financial impact of the application process also creates disincen- tives to apply. For licenses such as social work, the fee to sit for the licensure exam is $294. This fee does not guarantee that a person will pass, only that they can sit for the exam. It also does not take into account the person's eligibility prior to paying this fee. This can cause further harm, especially for formerly incarcerated individuals who are already at risk for higher rates of poverty, homelessness, and unem- ployment. This process discriminates against people who have been formerly incarcerated as it requires them to pay the licensing fee upfront before they are ever told that they may be ineligible based solely on their criminal history. This bill would allow an individual to verify that they are eligible for licensure before paying the much high- er fee for the licensure exams. This legislation will improve the licensure process and address the disparities that vulnerable populations face on an economic and systemic level. It will allow people with prior criminal legal system involvement to focus their efforts on career paths that would benefit them and their community. By focusing on careers that a person is eligible for and interested in, it increases their chances for success. When people with prior criminal legal system involvement are given the chance to find sustainable means of living after incarceration, it helps to reduce the rates of recidivism

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

May 5, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
Mar 26, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 25, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (13 earlier events)

Mar 24, 2026
1ST Report CAL.591
1ST REPORT CAL.591
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
Feb 10, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 5, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
1ST Report CAL.257
1ST REPORT CAL.257
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 30, 2026. About our data

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Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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