Reason: Oklahoma Just Passed A Major Licensing Reform for Individuals With Criminal Records
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"Today's vote opens doors to opportunity and employment for thousands of Oklahomans looking for meaningful employment and a second chance," said Jenna Moll, deputy director for the Justice Action Network, which advocated for the bill's passage.
Licensing boards will be allowed to deny licenses to individuals who have committed specific crimes—each board will have to publish a list of disqualifying offenses—but that's a huge improvement over the so-called "blanket bans" that mostly serve to exclude individuals from jobs they would otherwise be qualified to do.
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"Thanks to this legislation," said Moll, "those with an unrelated and long-past criminal record in Oklahoma will no longer be barred from obtaining an occupational license that will help them find jobs and contribute to society, which will increase employment opportunities and public safety while decreasing recidivism."