"Working for human rights for everyone"
"Out for Justice"
~Building Power for Change~
~Building Power for Change~
House Bill 635: Occupational Licensing
OFJ's second priority was dealing with barriers to employment. In Maryland, nearly 60 occupations list a license,
certification or registration as a prerequisite to employment. Some of these licensing methods automatically barred an
individual from receiving a license if they had a past conviction. The new law enables ex-offenders to earn certificates of employability, which would serve as evidence that they are rehabilitated and therefore able to apply for their license. OFJ has members on the Board who have faced this barrier. We contacted those organizations with whom we have maintained a rapport and identified those who were able to submit written and oral testimony. A trip to Annapolis was formed and those persons whom we identified to have faced this barrier testified in favor of the House 635 addressing this issue. Those who weren't able to make the trip, provided written testimony. The bill was passed by the House of Delegates and the Senate. OFJ received feedback from the sponsoring Delegate that our efforts made a big difference. When the bill was up for votes last year, the legislators said they didn't think many people actually faced this kind of problem and the bill was tabled. Our testimonies let them see the impact on families of this barrier to employment.
OFJ understands that most colleges/universities and institutions may be oblivious to the new law, which went into effect on October 1, 2009, and has made it a mission to make sure they are made aware. This would most likely increase the population of ex-offenders seeking a higher education, thus affording everyone a fair right to employment and education.
We will now organize a forum to educate the college admissions officers and department heads, as well as professional licensing agencies about the law. Please continue to check the website for updates. We are planning a forum in the very near future.
OFJ's second priority was dealing with barriers to employment. In Maryland, nearly 60 occupations list a license,
certification or registration as a prerequisite to employment. Some of these licensing methods automatically barred an
individual from receiving a license if they had a past conviction. The new law enables ex-offenders to earn certificates of employability, which would serve as evidence that they are rehabilitated and therefore able to apply for their license. OFJ has members on the Board who have faced this barrier. We contacted those organizations with whom we have maintained a rapport and identified those who were able to submit written and oral testimony. A trip to Annapolis was formed and those persons whom we identified to have faced this barrier testified in favor of the House 635 addressing this issue. Those who weren't able to make the trip, provided written testimony. The bill was passed by the House of Delegates and the Senate. OFJ received feedback from the sponsoring Delegate that our efforts made a big difference. When the bill was up for votes last year, the legislators said they didn't think many people actually faced this kind of problem and the bill was tabled. Our testimonies let them see the impact on families of this barrier to employment.
OFJ understands that most colleges/universities and institutions may be oblivious to the new law, which went into effect on October 1, 2009, and has made it a mission to make sure they are made aware. This would most likely increase the population of ex-offenders seeking a higher education, thus affording everyone a fair right to employment and education.
We will now organize a forum to educate the college admissions officers and department heads, as well as professional licensing agencies about the law. Please continue to check the website for updates. We are planning a forum in the very near future.