30:11-23 Qualification of applicants, criminal history record background check.

13. Except as to persons who shall qualify for a conditional license pursuant to the provisions of this act, no license shall be issued to a person unless he is a citizen of the United States at the time of the submission of the application, or has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States in the form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. No license granted to a noncitizen shall be valid or be renewed after six years from the date of his declaration of intention unless he shall furnish evidence of his actually having become a citizen. No license shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years; to any person who has ever been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; or to any person who has been found guilty of violating the provisions of this act by a court of competent jurisdiction or who has admitted such guilt.

For the purposes of this section, each applicant for a license shall submit to the commissioner the applicant's name, address, fingerprints and written consent for a criminal history record background check to be performed. The commissioner is hereby authorized to exchange fingerprint data with and receive criminal history record information from the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation consistent with applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations, for purposes of facilitating determinations concerning licensure eligibility. The applicant shall bear the cost for the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check. The Division of State Police shall promptly notify the commissioner in the event a current holder of a license or prospective applicant, who was the subject of a criminal history record background check pursuant to this section, is arrested for a crime or offense in this State after the date the background check was performed.

L.1968,c.356,s.13; amended 1973, c.178; 2003, c.199, s.16.