As a workforce crisis continues to plague Pennsylvania’s business community, the PA Chamber urged action last week on legislation that will help facilitate employment opportunities for reentrants and individuals with a criminal record.

Senate Bill 913 would update and improve Pennsylvania’s probation law by including the following provisions that would help reentrants obtain and maintain employment:

• Incentivizing those on probation to pursue education and job training programs by allowing sentences to be reduced once a program is successfully completed;
• Limiting when a technical violation can lead to probation revocation, which can disrupt employment and discourage employers from hiring individuals on probation; and
• Directing courts to consider scheduling confinement around a probationer’s work schedule in the event of revocation for a technical violation.

In a memo to committee members, the PA Chamber voiced support of these commonsense reforms in order to benefit individuals and employers – especially those for whom the workforce crisis has posed significant challenges.

Senate Bill 913 now awaits further consideration by the full Senate.