CT HB06582

Establishes "certificates of rehabilitation" as a new form of relief from employment and licensing barriers for eligible offenders, issued by either the Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, effective October 1, 2013.

Certificates of rehabilitation may be labeled as "Certificate of Employability" or "Certificate of Suitability for Licensure" and can be issued at any time after sentencing, including before release from custody, with temporary certificates becoming permanent after completion of incarceration, probation, or parole.

Prohibits employers from denying employment or discriminating against employees solely based on prior convictions for which the person has received a provisional pardon or certificate of rehabilitation.

Requires state agencies to give consideration to provisional pardons and certificates of rehabilitation when making employment or licensing decisions, establishing a presumption of rehabilitation and requiring written explanation if denial is based on a conviction for which relief was granted.

Mandates the Connecticut Sentencing Commission to track and evaluate the effectiveness of certificates of rehabilitation and provisional pardons through annual reports to the judiciary committee through January 2017, with data collection beginning October 1, 2014.