Tag: Clean Slate NY Act

NYC Comptroller Reports Clean Slate NY Act Could Gain Resident’s $2.4 Billion in Wages June 1, 2023 The future of New York City's proposed Clean Slate Act appears increasingly uncertain as the end of the session draws near. Should it pass, this Act would expunge qualifying misdemeanor and felony convictions. Given this uncertainty, the City's Comptroller completed a report concerning the bill's benefits. According to the Comptroller, this bill could boost residents' incomes by billions of dollars. According to NYC's Comptroller, "Passing the Clean Slate Act would close the employment gap for New York City's communities of color, and half a million New Yorkers would, in turn, contribute to the economic landscape of our city. Gaining employment is a proven way to stop the revolving door of our carceral system and move toward a system of true justice and economic freedom." The Clean Slate NY Act would automatically seal records for various criminal convictions after a specified waiting period. Should it pass, it would automatically seal misdemeanors after three years. Felonies would receive automatic expungement after seven. However, individuals with eligible records must complete any terms of probation or parole to have their records sealed. In addition, they cannot accrue pending charges in New York during this time. Otherwise, the Act provides exceptions to these terms. For example, sex offenses will not qualify for record sealing. Other exceptions in the bill include record interactions for certain employers, organizations, and the legal system. For example, the criminal justice system will maintain full access to these records. This allowance includes law enforcement, prosecution, defense counsel, and the courts. Another example includes the transportation industry. The Department of Motor Vehicles and private transportation companies would maintain access to these sealed records. In addition, employers that work with vulnerable populations may also access these records. Such employers include public, private, and religious schools where the law allows or requires fingerprint-based background checks. Other than these exceptions, affected individuals can expect most employers and other entities not to see these sealed records. According to the Comptroller's report, New York's existing record-sealing law has sealed 0.2% of eligible records. The report also mentioned a study by the University of Santa Clara that researched national losses to earnings. According to the study, misdemeanor convictions led to losses of around $5,100, while felonies added up to $6,400. Based on these facts, the Comptroller's Office estimated that city residents' wages could increase by $2.4 billion annually by automatically sealing old criminal convictions. Currently, the future of the Clean Slate NY Act remains uncertain. Despite this status, employers should review their current screening policies in case it passes before the session ends. Second-chance hiring programs can offer many benefits for employers and workers; the best way to get started is to work with an experienced screening provider. Pre-employ makes background checks easy and reliable. Speak with a compliance expert today. Source

Tag: Clean Slate NY Act

NYC Comptroller Reports Clean Slate NY Act Could Gain Resident’s $2.4 Billion in Wages

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