The PCC supports Senate Bill 637 by Sen. John DiSanto, which removes employment barriers for certain residents who are convicted of crimes unrelated to their intended profession. We believe this type of legislation helps people turn their lives around.
As it stands now, our laws deny many individuals a professional license to practice in the very industry we’ve trained them in, due to convictions unconnected to the practice of their desired profession. Senate bill 637 corrects this discrepancy by changing the law to state that convictions shall not automatically preclude the issuance of a license, certificate, registration or permit.
Once people have paid their debts to society we should not block them from becoming productive members of society. Furthermore, without the opportunity to become productive members of society, many individuals will end up back in our correctional institutions.
The bill is now before the PA House.
