Roughly 1 in 3 adult Americans have some sort of criminal record. To put this in context, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, as many Americans have criminal records as college diplomas. All too often, otherwise qualified individuals are not considered for employment because they have a criminal record. Many of these offenses are unrelated to the job in question, are non-violent in nature, or occurred in adolescence. While both federal and state law offer some protections in this area, it is clear that more needs to be done to give these job seekers a second chance by removing unfair roadblocks to economic stability.
 
To address this, I will be introducing legislation that will protect individuals currently employed as well as those applying for open positions who have criminal records through several important changes. This legislation would prohibit employers from inquiring about or using information related to an applicant’s or current employee’s juvenile or summary offenses, cases that did not result in convictions, and cases that were expunged or pardoned when determining an individual’s suitability for employment. Additionally, the bill will contain specific factors for employers to consider when determining whether an individual’s past criminal record relates to their current position or a position they have applied for.
 
This legislation is a win-win for employees and employers alike. Several other states and local jurisdictions have similar laws on the books. It is past time Pennsylvania joins their ranks. Please join me in supporting our economy and Pennsylvanians who deserve a second chance.