consider all records of prior criminal convictions involving child abuse or exploitation in determining an applicant's eligibility for a certificate, authorization or approval.

Sec. 9. 20-A MRSA §13020, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Grounds for denial, revocation, suspension or nonrenewal.__Grounds for denial of a certificate, authorization or approval related to criminal offenses, fraud or gross incompetence may be established by the state board in its rules in accordance with Title 5, chapter 341.__Except as provided in this section and Title 5, chapter 341, consideration of prior criminal convictions as an element of fitness to be certified, authorized, approved or renewed is appropriate within 3 years of the applicant's final discharge from a correctional system.__Beyond the 3 years, an applicant with a prior criminal conviction who applies for certification, authorization or approval with no additional convictions must be considered in the same manner as an applicant for certification, authorization or approval who has no prior criminal convictions for the purposes of certification, authorization, approval or renewal decisions.

The following are grounds for revocation, suspension or nonrenewal:

A.__A crime punishable by a term of imprisonment of one year or more as long as the period of time since the applicant's final discharge from the sentence is within the time frame permitted by Title 5, chapter 341;

B.__A conviction that is excepted by statute to which Title 5, chapter 341 does not apply; or

C.__A conviction of a crime that relates directly to the certification, authorization or approval sought by the applicant or that demonstrates conduct that may endanger a child as determined by the department.

The applicant has the burden of proving that the applicant is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust.

Sec. 10. 20-A MRSA §13020, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 845, §4, is amended to read:

4. Reinstatement of certificate, authorization or approval. Revoked certificates, authorizations or approvals may only be reinstated only in accordance with state board rules. The following provisions govern the reinstatement of any certificate,