At a Capitol press conference last week, the PA Chamber continued its leadership in the call to encourage employment among people with criminal records and expand Pennsylvania’s successful Clean Slate Act. Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Halper joined the authors of the Clean Slate Law – Reps. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, and Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, along with representatives from the U.S. Justice Action Network, Community Legal Services, Americans for Prosperity, and the District Attorney’s Association in urging advancement of H.B. 689, which would allow the sealing of certain low-level, nonviolent felony drug crimes after 10 years remaining crime-free.

House Bill 689 could see action in the General Assembly as early as this week.

“The population of people with a criminal record represents a potentially vast pool of under-tapped talent in Pennsylvania,” Halper said during the press conference. “Clean Slate advocates report that this policy encourages reformed individuals to reenter the workforce, and employers report that workers with past criminal records are often their best employees. We urge lawmakers to continue helping to facilitate these individuals’ employment through policies like Clean Slate.”

Fox 43 covered the press conference, which you can view here.