The bill amends section 2953.25 of the Revised Code to streamline the process for individuals seeking a certificate of qualification for employment, particularly those impacted by collateral sanctions from prior convictions. It allows individuals who have completed time in a state correctional institution or a department-funded program to petition the designee of the deputy director of the division of parole and community services. Notably, the bill removes the requirement for individuals to complete all periods of supervision before filing their petitions, enabling them to file one year after release from incarceration for felonies or six months for misdemeanors. It also establishes a fee structure for petitions, with provisions for fee waivers for indigent applicants, and clarifies the criteria courts should consider when reviewing petitions.

Additionally, the bill introduces protections for employers who hire individuals with a certificate of qualification for employment, allowing the certificate to serve as evidence of due care in hiring and granting immunity from negligence claims if the employer was aware of the certificate at the time of hiring. It specifies that while the certificate does not eliminate mandatory civil impacts, it requires licensing agencies to give individualized consideration to individuals with the certificate. The bill mandates the creation of a database by the department of rehabilitation and correction to track granted and revoked certificates and repeals the existing section 2953.25 of the Revised Code.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2953.25