Dozens of job opportunities might open up for people with criminal records if a legislative push successfully removes barriers for professional licenses that are required for one out of every seven jobs in Georgia.
Georgia Justice Project’s criminal justice reform efforts are targeting the occupational licensing process that prospective employees must go through to work as an engineer, teacher, barber, nurse, truck driver and in many other fields. This week state lawmakers began a new legislative session in which they could take up a planned bill that includes details hashed out in meetings by a task force led by state Sen. Brian Strickland, a McDonough Republican, and Butler Democratic state Rep. Patty Bentley.
An occupational board grants licenses to hundreds of thousands of Georgians who meet standards based on education and prior experience, passing certification exams, and passing background checks.
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