Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Song for Senate Bill 254

I can't resist. A bill passed by the Senate yesterday reminds me of a Merle Haggard song.

I'm talking about Senate Bill 254, sponsored by Sen. Clint Harden. This would remove the question “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” from State Personnel Office applications.

Harden said the bill does not prevent employers from asking about conviction status, nor does this bill prevent criminal background checks. “By delaying the inquiry on conviction history until the interview process, previously incarcerated persons will be on a level playing field with other candidates with similar qualifications,” Harden said. “They are just hoping for a fair shake after they have paid their dues to society.”

The bill passed the Senate 35-4 and goes on to the House.

I think Merle would agree with Harden. Here's the song.