N.H. Rev. Stat. § 329-B:14-a — NH Code / Title XXX / Chapter 329-B / Section 14-a
329-B:14-a Criminal History Record Checks.
Status: in_force

[Paragraph I effective until July 1, 2026; see also paragraph I set out below.] I. Every applicant for initial permanent licensure or reinstatement shall submit to the board a criminal history record release form, as provided by the New Hampshire division of state police, which authorizes the release of his or her criminal history record, if any, to the board. [Paragraph I effective July 1, 2026; see also paragraph I set out above.] I. Every applicant for initial permanent licensure or reinstatement shall submit to the office of professional licensure and certification a criminal history record release form, as provided by the New Hampshire division of state police, which authorizes the release of his or her criminal history record, if any, to the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification or its designee within the office of professional licensure and certification. For the purposes of this section, a designee may be the office's agency counsel, administrative law judge, director of licensing and board administration, licensing service representative, or board administrator. [Paragraph II effective until June 30, 2026; see also paragraph II set out below.] II. The applicant shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or an authorized employee of the department of safety. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, a second set of fingerprints shall be necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the board may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where the person has lived during the past 5 years. [Paragraph II effective June 30, 2026; see also paragraph II set out above and below.] II. The applicant shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency, an authorized employee of the department of safety, or an authorized employee of the office of professional licensure and certification, approved by the commissioner of the department of safety. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, a second set of fingerprints shall be necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the board may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where the person has lived during the past 5 years. [Paragraph II effective July 1, 2026; see also paragraph II set out above.] II. The applicant shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency, an authorized employee of the department of safety, or an authorized employee of the office of professional licensure and certification, approved by the commissioner of the department of safety. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, a second set of fingerprints shall be necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the office of professional licensure and certification may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where the person has lived during the past 5 years. [Paragraph III effective until July 1, 2026; see also paragraph III set out below.] III. The board shall submit the criminal history records release form and fingerprint form to the division of state police which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the board. [Paragraph III effective July 1, 2026; see also paragraph III set out above.] III. The office of professional licensure and certification shall submit the criminal history records release form and fingerprint form to the division of state police which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification or its designee within the office of professional licensure and certification. [Paragraph IV effective until July 1, 2026; see also paragraph IV set out below.] IV. The board shall review the criminal record information prior to making a licensing decision and shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history records received pursuant to this section. [Paragraph IV effective July 1, 2026; see also paragraph IV set out above.] IV. The executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification or its designee within the office of professional licensure and certification shall review the criminal record information prior to making a licensing decision and shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history records received pursuant to this section. V. The applicant shall bear the cost of a criminal history record check.