§ 7511 — Convicted Sex Offender As Grounds For Denial

(a) 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) 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.