NY A04442

Replaces both the "certificate of relief from disabilities" and "certificate of good conduct" with a single unified "certificate of restoration" for eligible offenders seeking relief from conviction-related forfeitures, disabilities, and employment bars

Removes the restriction that prevented persons convicted of more than one felony from being considered "eligible offenders" for certificate purposes

Requires courts to issue certificates of restoration at sentencing unless a finding is made that issuance would jeopardize public safety; if denied at sentencing, offenders become eligible after one year of a revocable sentence or one year after release from a definite sentence

Requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to issue certificates to incarcerated individuals who earned merit time or a certificate of earned eligibility upon release; those who did not earn such credits receive certificates after two years of unrevoked community supervision

Updates absentee voter statements across multiple election laws to specify that voting rights are restored when an individual's maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired, in addition to receiving a certificate of restoration