Fresh Start Act of 2019; revise to prohibit licensing authorities from requiring certain information.

HB 319, the Fresh Start Act, prohibits Mississippi licensing authorities from requiring job applicants to disclose certain criminal history, including arrests without conviction, sealed or expunged convictions, nonviolent misdemeanors, or convictions older than three years (with exceptions for serious crimes like sexual assault or murder). It requires agencies to consider evidence of rehabilitation when evaluating license applications and to use a clear standard for denials based on criminal records. The bill also mandates that the process for challenging disqualification be available online and that denials include specific written reasons. This affects individuals seeking occupational licenses in Mississippi who have the prohibited types of criminal history.