§7511. Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial

(a) Sexual Abuse.-A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document authorized to be issued under this part shall be denied to an individual who has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under-

(1) chapter 109A of title 18, except for subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18; or

(2) a substantially similar offense under State, local, or Tribal law.

(b) Abusive Sexual Contact.-A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who within 5 years before applying for the license, certificate, or document, has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18, or a substantially similar offense under State, local, or Tribal law.

(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXVI, §11602(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4147 .)