Senate Approves Coleman’s Bill to Strengthen Colorado’s Workforce, Reduce Recidivism

DENVER, CO – The Senate yesterday approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore James Coleman, D-Denver, that would strengthen Colorado’s workforce and reduce recidivism. 

HB24-1004 would ensure Coloradans who have served their time can re-enter the workforce, acquire professional credentials, support their families, and succeed in their careers. 

“Coloradans who have a criminal record face significant barriers to entry when looking for jobs, which makes it harder to break the cycle of incarceration and rebuild their lives,” Coleman said. “This bill aims to break down those barriers and make it easier for formerly incarcerated Coloradans to re-enter their communities and find a good-paying job that supports them and their families.”

HB24-1004 establishes a uniform process for considering criminal records in occupational registration, certification, and licensure applications. The bill includes a wide range of careers from the construction and banking industries to IT. The bill further prohibits regulators from automatically refusing to grant or renew a license based on an applicant’s criminal record unless the applicant’s conviction is directly related to a specific element that is still relevant at the time of an individual’s application.

HB24-1004 now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Track the bill’s progress HERE.