Bill > S02196

This bill amends the Correction Law to redefine the term "direct relationship" for the purposes of Article 23-A, which governs the licensure and employment of individuals with previous criminal convictions. The key changes are: (1) requiring a "substantial connection" between the nature of the crime and the duties or responsibilities of the license or job in question, rather than a "direct bearing" on the person's fitness or ability, and (2) requiring that such connection create an "unreasonable risk" to property, safety, or welfare, rather than just an "unreasonable risk." This aims to provide more specific and stringent criteria for determining whether a person's criminal history disqualifies them from a particular license or employment opportunity.