a. Every applicant shall file a disclosure statement with the director stating whether the applicant has been convicted of any crime, which for the purposes of P.L.2004, c.16 (C. 56:8-136 et seq.) shall mean a violation of any of the following provisions of the “New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice,” Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, or the equivalent under the laws of any other jurisdiction:

(1) Any crime of the first degree;

(2) Any crime which is a second or third degree crime and is a violation of chapter 20 or 21 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; or

(3) Any other crime which is a violation of N.J.S.2C:5-1, 2C:5-2, 2C:11-2 through 2C:11-4, 2C:12-1, 2C:12-3, 2C:13-1, 2C:14-2, 2C:15-1, subsection a. or b. of 2C:17-1, subsection a. or b. of 2C:17-2, 2C:18-2, 2C:20-4, 2C:20-5, 2C:20-7, section 1 or 2 of P.L.2023, c.101 (C. 2C:20-10.1 or 2C:20-10.2), 2C:20-9, 2C:21-2 through 2C:21-4, 2C:21-6, 2C:21-7, 2C:21-12, 2C:21-14, 2C:21-15, or 2C:21-19, chapter 27 or 28 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, N.J.S.2C:30-2, 2C:30-3, 2C:35-5, 2C:35-10, 2C:37-1 through 2C:37-4.

b. The director may refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any registration issued by him upon proof that the applicant or holder of the registration:

(1) Has obtained a registration through fraud, deception or misrepresentation;

(2) Has engaged in the use or employment of dishonesty, fraud, deception, misrepresentation, false promise or false pretense;

(3) Has engaged in gross negligence, gross malpractice or gross incompetence;

(4) Has engaged in repeated acts of negligence, malpractice or incompetence;

(5) Has engaged in professional or occupational misconduct as may be determined by the director;

(6) Has been convicted of any crime that has a direct and substantial relationship to the activity regulated by P.L.2004, c.16 (C. 56:8-136 et seq.) or is of a nature such that registration of the individual would be inconsistent with the public’s health, safety, or welfare. For the purpose of this subsection a plea of guilty, non vult, nolo contendere or any other such disposition of alleged criminal activity shall be deemed a conviction;

(7) Has had his authority to engage in the activity regulated by the director revoked or suspended by any other state, agency or authority for reasons consistent with this section;

(8) Has violated or failed to comply with the provisions of any act or regulation administered by the director;

(9) Is incapable, for medical or any other good cause, of discharging the functions of a registrant in a manner consistent with the public’s health, safety, and welfare.

c. An applicant whose registration is denied, suspended, or revoked pursuant to this section shall, upon a written request transmitted to the director within 30 calendar days of that action, be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in a manner provided for contested cases pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

d. An applicant shall have the continuing duty to provide any assistance or information requested by the director, and to cooperate in any inquiry, investigation, or hearing conducted by the director.

e. If any of the information required to be included in the disclosure statement changes, or if additional information should be added after the filing of the statement, the applicant shall provide that information to the director, in writing, within 30 calendar days of the change or addition.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (6) of subsection b. of this section, no individual shall be disqualified from registration or shall have registration revoked solely because the person has been convicted of or engaged in acts constituting any crime or offense, unless the crime or offense has a direct or substantial relationship to the activity regulated by P.L.2004, c.16 (C. 56:8-136 et seq.) or is of a nature such that registration of the person would be inconsistent with the public’s health, safety, or welfare. For the purposes of this section, a judgment of conviction or a plea of guilty, non vult, nolo contendere, or any other such disposition of alleged criminal activity shall be deemed a conviction. In making this determination, an entity shall consider the following:

(a) the nature and seriousness of the crime or offense and the passage of time since its commission;

(b) the relationship of the crime or offense to the purposes of regulating the profession or occupation regulated by the entity;

(c) any evidence of rehabilitation of the person in the period of time following the prior conviction that may be made available to the entity; and

(d) the relationship of the crime or offense to the ability, capacity, and fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of the profession or occupation regulated by the entity.

L.2004,c.16,s.6; amended 2023, c.101, s.11; 2023, c.237, s.31.