Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, and Sprinkler Fitters CORI Policy

See the information below for details on the bureau's CORI Policy.

This policy is applicable to the criminal history screening of professional licensing applicants to The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure’s (“DOL”) Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, and Sprinkler Fitters (“Bureau”). Where Criminal Offender Record Information (“CORI”) and other criminal history checks may be part of a general background check for licensing purposes, the following practices and procedures will be followed.

I. Conducting CORI screening

CORI checks will only be conducted as authorized by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (“DCJIS”) and M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, and only after a CORI Acknowledgement Form has been completed by an applicant. DOL has adopted the DCJIS CORI language that notifies individuals that their CORI may be requested at any time within the one-year period during which their acknowledgment form is valid.

II. Access to CORI

All CORI obtained from the DCJIS is confidential, and review of, and access to, the information is limited to those individuals at DOL who have a “need to know.” This includes, but is not limited to, hiring managers, staff submitting the CORI requests, and legal advisors. DOL maintains a current list of each individual at DOL authorized to review and access CORI. This list is updated every six (6) months and is subject to inspection upon request by the DCJIS at any time.

III. CORI Training

All personnel authorized to review or access CORI at DOL have reviewed, and are thoroughly familiar with, the educational and relevant training materials regarding CORI laws and regulations made available by the DCJIS. Additionally, DOL is an agency required by M.G.L. c. 6, § 171A, to maintain a CORI Policy, and all personnel at DOL authorized to conduct criminal history background checks and/or to review CORI information have reviewed, and are thoroughly familiar with, the CORI Policy.

IV. Verifying a subject’s identity

If a criminal record is received from the DCJIS, the information is closely compared with the information on the CORI Acknowledgement Form and any other identifying information provided by the applicant to ensure the record belongs to the applicant. If the information in the CORI record provided does not exactly match the identification information provided by the applicant, a determination as to whether the CORI record belongs to an applicant is made by an individual authorized to make such determinations based on a comparison of the CORI record and documents provided by the applicant.

V. Questioning a subject about their criminal history

In connection with any decision regarding occupational licensing, the applicant is provided with a copy of the criminal history record, whether obtained from the DCJIS or from any other source, prior to questioning the subject about it. The source(s) of the criminal history record is also disclosed to the applicant.

VI. Disqualifying convictions

In accordance with 528 CMR 11.06(1)(a)(7), the Bureau “may refuse to examine or license an applicant” based on a “determination that the applicant does not possess the integrity and general fitness to work in a safe manner and in the public interest consistent with the purposes of 528 CMR 11.00 or other sufficient cause.”

Pursuant to Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018 (An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform), the Bureau is required to provide “a list of the specific criminal convictions that are directly related to the duties and responsibilities for the licensed occupation that would disqualify an applicant from eligibility for a license.” The Bureau has determined that no single conviction, on its own, would result in rendering an applicant disqualified from being eligible for a license. However, other factors, such as a conviction being very recent, the applicant having a history of other criminal convictions, or the conviction involving aggravating factors (such as a crime being caused by substance abuse issues, the crime being part of a pattern of violence, the matter leading to a level 2 or 3 Sex Offender designation, etc.) might justify denying a license to an otherwise eligible candidate. As a result, any conviction could lead to the denial of a license.

This includes ALL the crimes listed on the Master Crime List issued by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission and found at this link: Felony and Misdemeanor Master Crime List, June 2018 (mass.gov).

VII. Applicant review

The Executive Director or Associate Executive Director is authorized, in consultation with Bureau Counsel, to review the records of criminal convictions and pending criminal cases received from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services or otherwise made available to the Bureau to determine whether an appearance before the Bureau is necessary for an applicant for licensure. In making this determination, the Executive Director and Associate Executive Director shall adhere to the following guidelines.

An applicant must be required to appear at a Bureau meeting where:

1. The applicant has been convicted of murder, manslaughter, or any other form of homicide;
   1. The applicant has been convicted of any other felony within the last ten (10) years prior to the date of the applicant’s application;

2. The applicant has been convicted of a felony more than ten (10) years before the date of the applicant’s application and has a criminal conviction within the last ten (10) years prior to the date of such application but not including motor vehicle related misdemeanor offenses;

   1. The applicant has been convicted of two (2) or more misdemeanors within the past five
   2. The applicant has a pending criminal case concerning an open criminal charge for which a disposition has not yet been entered, but not including motor vehicle related misdemeanor offenses;
   3. The applicant has been convicted of a crime involving, or has a pending criminal case that involves, sexual misconduct or the applicant is currently classified as a Level 2 or Level 3 Sex Offender by the Sex Offender Registry Bureau; or
   4. The applicant has been convicted of a crime involving, or has a pending criminal case that relates to, fraudulent activities in their professional practice or failure to pay prevailing wage.

   (5) years prior to the date of such application, but not including motor vehicle related misdemeanor offenses;

In addition, the Executive Director or Associate Executive Director, in consultation with Bureau Counsel, is authorized to require an appearance before the Bureau of any applicant whose record contains any conviction or pending charge that the Executive Director or Associate Executive Director, in consultation with Bureau Counsel, believes the Bureau should review. If an appearance is not required by this policy and the Executive Director or Associate Executive Director, in consultation with Bureau Counsel, does not find other cause to require a board appearance, then the Executive Director or Associate Executive Director is authorized to approve an applicant for licensure without Bureau review. All appearances before the Bureau shall be in closed Executive Session unless the applicant chooses otherwise.

VIII. Determining suitability

If a determination is made, based on the information as provided in section IV of this policy, that the criminal record belongs to the applicant, and the applicant does not dispute the record’s accuracy, then the determination of suitability for the license will be made. The purpose of the Bureau review of certain convictions is to determine whether the individual’s practice of the profession would pose a risk to the public. Factors that the Bureau considers in determining an applicant’s suitability for licensure may include, but not be limited to the following:

1. The requirements of public protection as determined by the Bureau;
2. The relationship between the authorized occupation and public protection;
3. The time since the conviction;
4. The age of the applicant at the time of the offense(s);
5. The seriousness and specific circumstances of the offense(s);
6. The number of offenses;
7. Whether the applicant has pending charges;
8. Any relevant evidence of rehabilitation or lack thereof;
9. Submission of false information on an application for licensure and/or failure to provide required notification of new information;
10. Whether the applicant or registrant is currently classified as a Sex Offender by the Sex Offender Registry Bureau and if so, the applicant’s or registrant’s level of classification and compliance with applicable laws; and
11. Any other relevant information, including information submitted by the applicant/licensee/registrant or requested by the Bureau.
12. Adverse decisions based on CORI

At the time of making a final adverse decision based on the results of a criminal history background check, the applicant will be notified in accordance with DCJIS regulations at 803 CMR 2.21. The applicant shall be provided with a copy of this CORI policy and a copy of the criminal history (unless a copy was provided previously). The source(s) of the criminal history will also be revealed. The subject will then be provided with an opportunity to dispute the accuracy of the CORI record. Subjects shall also be provided a copy of DCJIS’ Information Concerning the Process for Correcting a Criminal Record. It shall be the burden of the applicant to notify the Bureau when the CORI has been corrected so that a new CORI can be requested. Pursuant to relevant case law and the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, prior to denial of licensure, all applicants will be provided an opportunity to appear before the Bureau at a Bureau meeting.

10. Secondary dissemination logs

All CORI obtained from the DCJIS is confidential and can only be disseminated as authorized by law and regulation. A central secondary dissemination log shall be used to record any dissemination of CORI outside this organization, including dissemination at the request of the applicant.

Questions concerning this policy may be directed to the Bureau at 617-727-3200, or [e-mail], or via U.S. Mail to the following address:

Executive Director
Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, and Sprinkler Fitters One Federal Street, Suite 600
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2012