1     
OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENTS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Ashlee Matthews

5     
Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill establishes provisions related to a web portal that will connect individuals with
10     criminal histories to available job opportunities.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     requires the Department of Workforce Services to create and maintain a web portal
15     through which:
16               •     a business in this state, including a state or local entity, may post job
17     opportunities available to individuals with criminal histories and related
18     employment information; and
19               •     an individual with a criminal history may access job opportunities and related
20     information;
21          ▸     requires the Division of Human Resource Management to:
22               •     provide information and guidance to state agencies encouraging the hiring of
23     individuals with criminal histories;
24               •     ensure that state agency job opportunities available to individuals with criminal
25     histories are included in the web portal; and
26               •     report on the information and guidance to the Law Enforcement and Criminal
27     Justice Interim Committee;

28          ▸     requires the Department of Corrections to ensure that an offender has access to the
29     web portal prior to release from incarceration; and
30          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
31     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
32          None
33     Other Special Clauses:
34          None
35     Utah Code Sections Affected:
36     AMENDS:
37          64-13-10.6, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
38     ENACTS:
39          35A-2-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40          63A-17-808, Utah Code Annotated 1953
41     

42     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43          Section 1. Section 35A-2-204 is enacted to read:
44          35A-2-204. Job opportunity portal for individuals with criminal histories.
45          (1) As used in this section, "web portal" means an Internet webpage that can be
46     accessed by a person who enters the person's unique user information in order to access secure
47     information.
48          (2) The department shall, in consultation with the entities described in Subsection (4),
49     design, create, and maintain a web portal through which a person may access data described in
50     Subsection (3), as agreed upon by the entities described in Subsection (4).
51          (3) The department shall ensure the web portal allows:
52          (a) a business in this state, including a state or local entity, to:
53          (i) post a job opportunity that may be available for an individual with a criminal
54     history;
55          (ii) review a resume or profile information for a job opportunity that is submitted by an
56     individual with a criminal history; and
57          (iii) review information regarding incentives for hiring an individual with a criminal
58     history; and

59          (b) an individual with a criminal history in this state to:
60          (i) review a job opportunity posted within the web portal;
61          (ii) apply for a job opportunity posted within the web portal; and
62          (iii) obtain information regarding:
63          (A) resume creation;
64          (B) interviewing skills; and
65          (C) other job-seeking skills.
66          (4) In developing the web portal described in Subsection (2), the department shall
67     consult with:
68          (a) the Department of Corrections;
69          (b) the Division of Human Resource Management; and
70          (c) the business community that is likely to use the web portal.
71          (5) The department shall ensure that the web portal described in Subsection (2) is fully
72     operational no later than July 1, 2024.
73          Section 2. Section 63A-17-808 is enacted to read:
74          63A-17-808. Guidance and data collection regarding employment of individuals
75     with criminal histories.
76          (1) The division shall:
77          (a) provide information and guidance to agencies encouraging the hiring of individuals
78     with criminal histories, including:
79          (i) skills developed during incarceration through the Division of Correctional Industries
80     and any other relevant program; and
81          (ii) guidelines to determine whether an applicant's conviction, disclosed in accordance
82     with Section 34-52-201, is a job-related conviction; and
83          (b) ensure that agency job opportunities available to individuals with criminal histories
84     are included in the web portal.
85          (2) On or before October 1, 2024, the division shall provide a written report to the Law
86     Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee describing the efforts described in
87     Subsection (1).
88          Section 3. Section 64-13-10.6 is amended to read:
89          64-13-10.6. Transition and reentry of inmates at termination of incarceration.

90          (1) The department shall evaluate the case action plan and update the case action plan
91     as necessary to prepare for the offender's transition from incarceration to release, including:
92          (a) establishing the supervision level and program needs, based on the offender's
93     criminal risk factors;
94          (b) identifying barriers to the offender's ability to obtain housing, food, clothing, and
95     transportation;
96          (c) identifying community-based treatment resources that are reasonably accessible to
97     the offender; [and]
98          (d) establishing the initial supervision procedures and strategy for the offender's parole
99     officer[.]; and
100          (e) ensuring that the offender has access to the web portal described in Section
101     35A-2-204.
102          (2) The department shall notify the Board of Pardons and Parole not fewer than 30 days
103     prior to an offender's release of:
104          (a) the offender's case action plan; and
105          (b) any specific conditions of parole necessary to better facilitate transition to the
106     community.