Senate approves occupational licensure reforms, sends legislation to governor

The Senate approved Wednesday, with House amendments, legislation designed to extend second chances for rehabilitated citizens seeking state-issued job licenses.

Senate Bill 637, introduced by state Sen. John DiSanto (Dauphin/Perry), overhauls Pennsylvania’s current occupational licensing laws that deny many qualified residents the right work due to an old or irrelevant criminal record. The legislation would specifically require the Department of State’s 29 licensing boards and commissions to complete individualized reviews to determine an applicant’s criminal conviction is basis for disqualification for licensure.

“My legislation provides much-needed balance, predictability, and transparency to a licensing process that has dissuaded far too many and been a disservice to our entire commonwealth and its skilled workforce needs,” DiSanto said. “More than 1 in 5 jobs require a government job license and SB 637 removes any old or irrelevant criminal record’s lifelong barriers to employment and opportunity.”

The bill would also provide prospective applicant guidance as well as the opportunity to petition entities for preliminary decisions on how their criminal history affects their ability to practice.

Senate Bill 637 has the support of several stakeholders, including the Greater Harrisburg NAACP, Community Legal Services, Americans for Tax Reform, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Justice Action Network, and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, which stated in a June 24 tweet that it supported the bill and that the legislation “streamlines PA’s occupational licensure laws and will strengthen our state’s workforce.”

Senate Bill 637 is now headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk, where he will have 10 days to act on the bill. His administration has previously expressed support for the legislation.