1. (a) Each license application received under this chapter must be processed as follows:

   1. (1) Upon receipt of a license application, the state seed commissioner shall do one (1) of the following:

      1. (A) Forward a copy of the application to the state police department. The state police department shall do the following:

         1. (i) Perform a state or national criminal history background check of the applicant.
         2. (ii) Determine if the requirements under section 7(c)(5) of this chapter concerning prior criminal convictions have been met.
         3. (iii) Return the application to the state seed commissioner along with the state police department's determinations and a copy of the state or national criminal history background check.

      2. (B) Do the following:

         1. (i) Perform a state or national criminal history background check of the applicant under the same standards as the state police department would perform.
         2. (ii) Determine if the requirements under section 7(c)(5) of this chapter concerning prior criminal convictions have been met.
   2. (2) The state seed commissioner shall review the license application and the criminal history background check.
2. (b) If the state seed commissioner determines that all the requirements under this chapter have been met and that a license should be granted to the applicant, the state seed commissioner shall approve the application for issuance of a license.
3. (c) A hemp license or agricultural hemp seed production license expires on December 31 of the year for which the license was issued, unless revoked. A hemp license or agricultural hemp seed production license may be renewed in accordance with rules adopted by the state seed commissioner and is nontransferable.

As added by P.L.165-2014, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.190-2019, SEC.9; P.L.156-2020, SEC.62.