Ohio bill would set waits before work certificate petitions

People subject to work or license barriers from a conviction may petition for a certificate of qualification for employment. People who served time in a state correctional institution or a state-funded program petition a state official. Other Ohio residents may petition that official or a court in their county; people living elsewhere may petition that official or a court in a county where a covered conviction occurred. A court may grant a petition only if it finds that the certificate would materially help the person obtain work or a license, the person needs it to live lawfully, and granting it would not pose an unreasonable safety risk. State rules may allow earlier filing. A certificate does not remove certain listed restrictions, including some licensing restrictions. For a felony, a person generally may file after one year from release from incarceration and supervision, or from final release from other sanctions if there was no incarceration. For a misdemeanor, the wait is six months. State rules may allow filing sooner.