Legislation

Every person living with a criminal record, who has served out their sentence and reentered society, should have an equal opportunity to build a successful and fulfilling life.

House Bill 5129 is a good step forward that can immediately improve the lives of Connecticut residents.

If the blanket bans proposed in S.B. 132 were to remain in place, the legislature would add yet another collateral consequence that will stifle the ability of people living with a criminal record to cultivate a small business and provide for their families.

All people in Connecticut, regardless of whether they have a criminal record, should have the right to safe and stable housing.

Codifying a fundamental right to housing is a pivotal measure to codify equity, justice, and fairness for people living in our state.

House Bill 5248 is the opportunity for Connecticut to require job licensure boards to make a determination based on a person, not a background check result. We will all benefit if we stop blocking people’s access to employment solely based on that person’s criminal record.

To balance between unnecessarily excluding people with a criminal record from suitable jobs and the need to ensure pyrotechnic safety, the ACLU-CT proposes that DESPP utilize a balancing test like the one in Section 46a-80 of the general statutes.

The ACLU-CT opposes legislation that add to the labyrinth of collateral consequences that people living with a criminal record face every day in this state. Unless amended, Senate Bill 254 will add another collateral consequence to the bucket.

Senate Bill 334 makes obtaining a commercial learner permit test easier for people as they prepare to return to their communities from incarceration. But this bill could be made stronger.