Colorado House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, a Denver Democrat, talks about her bill that would make it less difficult for qualified people leaving the corrections system to get certifications and licenses in certain professions regulated by the state, on Feb. 15 at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)
A Colorado bill that would make it easier for people with nonviolent criminal records to meet state credential and licensing requirements unanimously passed through the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee on Thursday.
The legislation would create a uniform process that prohibits automatic denial of an applicant due to a criminal record and requires state regulators to consider each individual applicant’s criminal record and present circumstances. The goal of the program is to remove barriers for people with criminal records as they look to meet credential and licensing requirements for certain professions regulated by the Department of Regulatory Agencies.