House Committee Approves "Fresh Start" Legislation

This week, the House Special Committee on Career Readiness voted 7-0 in favor of a bill that would grant offenders a second chance in obtaining a professional license. HB 564, sponsored by Rep. Derek Grier (R-Chesterfield), requires each state licensing authority to revise its existing licensing requirements to explicitly list which criminal convictions could disqualify an applicant. An individual with a conviction cannot be disqualified from an occupation for more than five years unless the crime is violent or sexual in nature.

Many times, reformed criminals, who have paid their debt to society and are simply trying to get an occupational license so they can get a good paying job, are at risk of having their application rejected even if the crime they committed happened long ago or has nothing to do with the job they are attempting to get. The MCC was among various groups who spoke in support of the bill. HB 564 now goes to the Rules Committee.