1. (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. (1) chapter 109A of title 18, except for subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18;
   2. (2) section 920 or 920b of title 10 (article 120 and 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); or
   3. (3) a substantially similar offense under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law.
2. (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; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(g)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1756.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(A), struck out “or” after “title 18;”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(D), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(B), substituted “Federal, State, local, or Tribal law” for “State, local, or Tribal law”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(C), redesignated par. (2) as (3).