Bill > S1902

This bill establishes a process for issuing a certificate of rehabilitation to individuals with substance use disorders who have prior criminal convictions, aiming to help them overcome barriers to employment and licensure. To qualify, an individual must have a diagnosed substance use disorder, a conviction under Title 2C of New Jersey Statutes, have abstained from drugs and alcohol for at least five years, have no convictions in the past three years, and demonstrate rehabilitation through clear and convincing evidence, including being found in remission and stable in recovery by a certified addiction professional. This certificate, which can be issued after sentencing or by the State Parole Board, supersedes contrary laws and removes disabilities and forfeitures associated with their convictions, except for certain serious offenses like murder or sexual assault, and does not prevent employers from denying employment if there's a direct relationship between the crime and the job and less than 10 years have passed since the most recent conviction (excluding minor offenses). The certificate is considered presumptive evidence of rehabilitation, but it does not prevent other bodies from denying licenses or employment based on grounds other than the conviction itself, and it specifically excludes firearms licenses.