A major criminal justice reform bill will be back before state senators when they re-convene at the end of this month. The measure, placing a heavy emphasis on inmate re-entry into society, was approved by the House Wednesday.
The bill includes a provision intended to increase private company hiring of inmates. Northern Kentucky Representative Joe Fischer says a change in the House shifts the burden of proof for certain former prisoners.
“If it’s a sexual offense or a violent offense, then the presumption will shift to the applicant to prove there is no connection between the duties of the occupation and the crime committed,” Fischer said.
Another change made in the House committee was to place the attorney general back on the state's criminal justice council. He had been removed in the Senate version of the bill.
