HB424 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Criminal offenders, certificate of qualification for employment or occupational licensing issued by Board of Pardons and Paroles

Summary

HB424 would let the Department of Corrections help the Board of Pardons and Paroles issue certificates of qualification for employment to certain offenders after sentencing, and would grant employers immunity when hiring someone with such a certificate.

What This Bill Does

An offender may apply to the Department of Corrections for a Certificate of Qualification for Employment or Occupational Licensing after sentencing and pay a $50 fee (waived if they cannot pay). A DOC investigator would review the case, gather input from the sentencing court, prosecutors, and victims, and make a recommendation to the Board of Pardons and Paroles within about four months. The Board would hold a hearing within 60 days to decide whether to issue the certificate; if granted, the certificate could help the offender obtain employment or licensing, with revocation possible if the offender commits a new felony or has probation/parole supervision revoked. The program would require rules from DOC and an annual report on applications, recommendations, certificates issued, and revoked certificates. Employers hiring certified individuals would be immune from liability for the employee’s actions unless the employer acted with malice, gross negligence, or intent to harm.

Who It Affects

• Offenders who have been convicted of a crime and are seeking a certificate; they may apply after six months from sentencing, pay (or seek a waiver for) a $50 application fee, undergo an investigation, and potentially receive a certificate to aid employment or licensing.
• Employers who hire someone with a Certificate of Qualification for Employment; they would receive immunity from liability for the employee’s acts or omissions in most circumstances, protecting them unless they acted with malice, gross negligence, or intent to cause harm.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Department of Corrections to make a recommendation to the Board of Pardons and Paroles to issue a Certificate of Qualification for Employment or for Occupational Licensing to certain offenders after sentencing.
• Establishes an application process with a $50 fee (waivable) and requires the DOC to assign an investigator to conduct an investigation within 120 days (plus up to 30 additional days if extended). The investigator must contact courts, prosecutors, and victims and prepare a written report with a recommendation.
• The Board of Pardons and Paroles must hold a hearing within 60 days of receiving the investigator’s report and decide whether to issue the certificate; applicants may apply six months after sentencing.
• A certificate is permanently revoked if the holder commits a felony or a Class A/B misdemeanor after issuance or if probation, parole, or extended supervision is revoked.
• DOC may promulgate rules to implement the section and must submit an annual report on applications, recommendations, certificates issued, and certificates revoked to the Legislature by January 1 each year.
• Section 2 provides immunity to employers who hire a CQE-holder for the employee’s acts or omissions, unless the employer acted maliciously, with gross negligence, or with intent to cause harm.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Employment