The nation's largest Christian non-profit serving current and former inmates says a bill filed in the Texas House could make life easier for those who have paid their debt to society.
House Bill 1747, sponsored by state representative Jeff Leach of Plano would make it easier for former inmates to get licensed in a profession.
The proposed bill prohibits licensing boards from taking into account certain older criminal convictions, if someone has proven over five years that they are able to live a crime-free life.
David Jimenez with Prison Fellowship says "this bill would affect a wide variety of high demand, high paying professions from electricians to cosmetology, and a lot of professions and jobs that offer a gateway to the middle class."
Jimenez says right now, a board could potentially deny someone a job as a licensed electrician based on a DUI that took place nearly 20 years ago.
Texans with a criminal record face over 3,500 government restrictions that limit access to jobs, education, housing, and more.
He says most licensing boards do not pursue automatic denials. Instead former inmates are individually evaluated for this bill.
HB 1747 does recognize that certain violent and sexual offenses should be considered by boards, no matter how much time has passed.
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