Today Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 288 into law. This legislation provides an avenue for rehabilitated Georgians to restrict and seal certain conviction records. This process helps returning citizens gain employment and fill open positions, while ensuring employers have appropriate liability protection.
Today Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 288 into law. This legislation provides an avenue for rehabilitated Georgians to restrict and seal certain conviction records. This process helps returning citizens gain employment and fill open positions, while ensuring employers have appropriate liability protection.
SB 288 was authored by Sen. Tonya Anderson and sponsored in the House by Rep. Houston Gaines; it passed both chambers unanimously and with broad support from the business community, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Georgia Justice Project. Once in effect, SB 288 will allow rehabilitated individuals to petition the court to restrict and seal certain misdemeanor convictions, four years after the completion of their sentence, as long as they have no new convictions or pending charges.
Amy Lancaster-King, Director of Workforce Development at MAC said, “helping returning citizens gain employment to fill open positions is good for business and for the community. Removing barriers to employment grows tax dollars, reduces crime and recidivism costs, and helps our economy and communities thrive. The Metro Atlanta Chamber is proud to be part of the team that helped move the Second Chances bill forward.”
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2021.
