© 2024 WYSO
Our Community. Our Nation. Our World.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ohio Bills Aim to Help Ex-Offenders Find Work

Prison
Foreverdigital

Ohio lawmakers have approved measures aimed at making it easier for ex-offenders who can prove their rehabilitation to find work after prison.

The bills approved by the House and Senate Thursday would reduce current restrictions on felons for working as cosmetologists, optical dispensers, salvage-yard dealers, construction-trade workers, hearing-aid dealers and fitters and security guards.

The two chambers must reconcile certain differences in the bills before sending their proposal to Gov. John Kasich.

Both bills allow courts to order community service instead of fines or drivers' license suspensions, and permit child support payments to be modified when someone's earning capacity is lowered because of serving time or having a felony record.

Juvenile advocates object to a provision that could make the records of some juvenile offenders public as adults. 

Stories from the Associated Press.