AR SB462

Division of Correction must issue certificates of employability to prisoners who complete educational or vocational programs while incarcerated (GED, vocational certification, rehabilitative programs), have no major disciplinary violations in the year before release, and pass a job skills assessment test

Persons with felony or misdemeanor convictions may petition circuit courts for certificates of employability, with prosecuting attorneys receiving at least 3 weeks notice before hearings and having the right to appear and be heard

Certificates are automatically revoked upon conviction of a new felony, and falsely claiming to hold a valid certificate constitutes a Class B misdemeanor

Employers may use certificates as evidence of due care in negligent hiring claims, and employers can continue relying on certificates unless they knew of revocation before hiring the individual

Certificates do not provide relief from sex offender registration requirements, driver's license suspensions, or healthcare license denials related to substance use disorders