In 2017, NACDL advocated for the passage of B22-0523, legislation to eliminate barriers to occupational licensing for individuals who have been involved with the criminal legal system. In January 2021, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Removing Barriers to Occupational Licensing for Returning Citizens Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0440), which limits a licensing board’s consideration of criminal convictions to those directly relevant to the occupation for which the license is sought and prohibits boards from considering any juvenile, sealed, expunged, vacated, or pardoned convictions. B23-0440 went into effect on March 16, 2021.
Occupational Licensing
NACDL supports efforts to alleviate the collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement by eliminating barriers to attaining occupational licenses.
