An Act To Prevent the Denial or Revocation of a Professional or Business License for a Violation Not Related to That Profession or Business
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0992
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: NEWMAN, COLLAMORE, COSTAIN, PICKETT, RUDNICKI, FARRIN
Amends: 10 MRSA §8012, 30-A MRSA §3704

Legislative Document
No. 992
H.P. 730
House of Representatives, March 10, 2021
An Act To Prevent the Denial or Revocation of a Professional or 
Business License for a Violation Not Related to That Profession or 
Business
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative NEWMAN of Belgrade.
Cosponsored by Representatives: COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, COSTAIN of Plymouth, 
PICKETT of Dixfield, RUDNICKI of Fairfield, Senator: FARRIN of Somerset.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §8012 is enacted to read:
§8012.  Unrelated violations
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, beginning January 1, 2022, the 
commissioner, or a bureau, board or commission within or affiliated with the department, 
may not deny or revoke a professional or occupational license if the denial or revocation is 
for a violation unrelated to the practice of the licensed profession or occupation.
Sec. 2.  30-A MRSA §3704 is enacted to read:
§3704.  Unrelated violations
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, beginning January 1, 2022, a 
municipality may not deny or revoke a license if the denial or revocation is for a violation 
unrelated to the conduct of the business.
Sec. 3.  Report by Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.  
No later than December 1, 2021, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation 
shall identify all statutes that provide for denial or revocation of licenses for violations 
unrelated to the practice of the licensed profession or occupation. The department shall 
submit a report identifying these statutes to the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, 
Development, Economic Advancement and Business.  The committee may report out 
legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature to repeal such statutes.
Sec. 4.  Report by Department of Economic and Community Development.  
No later than December 1, 2021, the Department of Economic and Community 
Development shall identify all statutes that provide for denial or revocation of business 
licenses for violations unrelated to the conduct of the business. The department shall submit 
a report identifying these statutes to the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, 
Development, Economic Advancement and Business.  The committee may report out 
legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature to repeal such statutes.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation, or any 
bureau, board or commission within or affiliated with the Department of Professional and 
Financial Regulation, from denying or revoking a professional or occupational license if 
the denial or revocation is for a violation unrelated to the practice of the licensed profession 
or occupation.  It requires the department to submit to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business a report identifying 
existing statutes that allow for such denial or revocation and gives the committee the 
authority to report out legislation repealing these statutes to the Second Regular Session of 
the 130th Legislature.
The bill also prohibits municipalities from denying or revoking a business license if 
the denial or revocation is for a violation unrelated to the conduct of the business.  It 
requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to submit to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business 
a report identifying existing statutes that allow for such denial or revocation and gives the 
committee the authority to report out legislation repealing these statutes to the Second 
Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.