Legislation seeks to change how people with criminal records are certified

A bill recently introduced in the state House would ensure the boards overseeing licensure for 30 occupations use fair, consistent methods when licensing people with criminal records.

The bipartisan Clean Slate Act passed last year clears the criminal records of nonviolent offenses after 10 years without a subsequent arrest.

House Bill 1477 would amend the Criminal History Record Information Act to ensure a criminal record isn’t a barrier for re-entering the workforce. Under current law, licensing boards can deny certification to anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor relevant to the profession.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) and Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) and has more than 30 cosponsors.

“We simply can’t continue to judge people by their worst day and hold them back from enriching their lives and the lives of others due to mistakes made in the past that have no impact on someone’s ability to do a job,” Harris said. “This is another step forward in helping those with criminal records re-enter the workforce and strengthen our economy and I’m incredibly appreciative to have this discussion today with bipartisan support from my colleagues.”

The Department of State oversees licensing boards and approximately 250 different professional licenses are issued in Pennsylvania.