§1063. Authorization to obtain criminal history record information

A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(1) "Applicant" means an individual who has made application to the board for the issuance or reinstatement of any license, registration, certificate, permit, or any other designation deemed necessary to engage or assist in the practice of optometry that the board is authorized by law to issue.

(2) "Bureau" means the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information or the office of state police within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(3) "Criminal history record information" means information collected by state and federal criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, bills of information, or any formal criminal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom, including sentencing, criminal correctional supervision, and release, but does not include intelligence for investigatory purposes, nor does it include any identification information which does not indicate involvement of the individual in the criminal justice system.

(4) "FBI" means the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States Department of Justice.

(5) "Licensure" means any license, permit, certification, or registration that the board is authorized to issue.

B. In addition to any other requirements established by regulation, the board may require an applicant as a condition for eligibility for licensure:

(1) To submit a full set of fingerprints, in a form and manner prescribed by the board.

(2) To permit the board to request and obtain state and national criminal history record information on the applicant.

C. In accordance with the provisions and procedures prescribed by this Section, the board may request and obtain state and national criminal history record information from the bureau and the FBI relative to any applicant for licensure whose fingerprints the board has obtained pursuant to this Section for the purpose of determining the applicant's suitability and eligibility for licensure.

D. Upon request by the board and upon the board's submission of an applicant's fingerprints, and such other identifying information as may be required, the bureau shall conduct a search of its criminal history record information relative to the applicant and report the results of its search to the board within sixty days from receipt of any request. The bureau may charge the board a processing fee pursuant to R.S. 15:587 for conducting and reporting on any such search.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 488, §1; Acts 1982, No. 677, §1; Acts 2003, No. 987, §§1 and 3; Acts 2006, No. 596, §1.