The state budget is still a mess of red ink that will require a special session of the state legislature next week to close a nearly $1 billion gap. In the closing days of the regular session that ended Wednesday, State Senator Ed Gomes shepherded several initiatives including passage of the Fair Chance Employment act that establishes a set of hiring policies requiring applicants with criminal records be evaluated by private employers on the merits of their qualifications. The bill awaits the signature of Governor Dan Malloy who has pushed several proposals in a second-chance society agenda.
“We have too many hard-working people trying to find jobs that are being disqualified,” said Gomes in a statement. “We need to give everyone that is looking for a job a fair shot. I will continue to fight for an employment system that is fair to all our communities.”
Gomes says research shows that once an employer has examined the qualifications of a job applicant, the applicant is more likely to be hired.
The law will incorporate “ban the box” policies that remove the criminal history question from job applications and postpone the background check until a conditional offer is made by the employer. It also require employers to take into account the age of the offense when making hiring decisions.
Employers required by law to check applicant criminal history such as school districts and public safety agencies are exempt.
Connecticut is one of seven states to extend fair hiring practices to private employers.
Gomes, the 80-year-old warrior, has a busy spring and summer ahead. He faces an August primary challenge from Board of Education Chair Dennis Bradley who’s been actively courting party regulars for support for the endorsement scheduled for May 23. Gomes’ Senate ally Marilyn Moore is simultaneously being challenged by City Council President Tom McCarthy in a Dem primary.
“The law will incorporate “ban the box” policies that remove the criminal history question from job applications and postpone the background check until a conditional offer is made by the employer. It also require employers to take into account the age of the offense when making hiring decisions.”
It sounds like the bill is missing some important language. The need or usage of the bill being proposed can be curtailed with a Pardon. I understand the city of New Haven has a program set out to help felons get a pardon.
Joel, good point.
This is from the City of New Haven’s website under the Project Fresh Start. Although it helps and advises former convicts as to how to apply for a pardon, right now in the state of Connecticut, there remains a five-year waiting period to get your record expunged of all felonies. And the city of New Haven cannot do anything to lessen that requirement.
PARDONS AND CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYABILITY (OLD PROVISIONAL PARDON)
Every other Wednesday, Chance Jackson hosts an informational pardons session at City Hall. Anyone interested in learning more about the pardons process in Connecticut is welcome! Please click here for more information about these sessions.
Before attending one of our sessions, you may want to read the answers to some frequently asked questions about pardons in Connecticut.
There are two types of pardons:
You can apply for a Certificate of Employability 90 days after release for incarceration and or 90 days after you have successfully completed probation/parole supervision. A Certificate of Employability is for employment purposes: it states that you are employable and makes it illegal for employers to deny employment based on your criminal record.
You can apply for an expungement pardon 3 years after the disposition date of your most recent misdemeanor conviction and/or 5 years after the disposition date of your most recent felony conviction. An expungement pardon erases the official criminal record.
For application materials for a Certificate of Employability and/or an expungement pardon, go to:
Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles
After failing to pass a budget, the Connecticut General Assembly gets a second chance. Take advantage of it to close the gap and pass a budget.
Thanks, Senator Gomes. It is a commonsense approach to helping a former convict to break the chains of that mistake.
Nothing is guaranteed. Only the opportunity to move forward without the fear of being trapped by a former mistake.
There is plenty of opportunity on the back end to change your mind without an insurmountable obstacle on the front end as there is today.
Good job, Sen. Gomes. Don’t know why anyone would think you should be replaced unless it is for personal, selfish reasons.
Bubba, it is for personal, selfish reasons, encouraged by Mario Testa. I can’t wait to see the egg on his face when Ed wins. He deliberately tanked my TC slate, along with Tom McCarthy because the goal is to get rid of both our incumbent State Senators.
*** IF IT’S YOUR LAST “HURRAH” AS STATE SENATOR THIS YEAR ED, MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT WITH A BIG POLITICAL BANG! PUSH AS MANY BILLS, ETC. THAT WILL HELP YOUR FELLOW BPT CITIZENS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE. WORK WITH THE OTHER BPT REPS AND UNITE THEM ALL ON THE SAME BANDWAGON TOWARDS SOMETHING BIG AND MEMORABLE FOR THE PARK CITY AND ITS PEOPLE! *** GOOD LUCK! ***
Good advice Ralph, you’re my wise one! (smile)
When would this and the MERS restructuring agendas take effect?