HF1577

Purpose

• Provide funds for a statewide education campaign to inform employers about the benefits of second-chance hiring and the incentives available under state and federal law for employing people with a conviction record.

Main Provisions

• Funding: The bill appropriates $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund.
• On behalf of: The funds are given to the commissioner of employment and economic development.
• Campaign goals: To educate employers about the benefits of second-chance hiring and the incentives for hiring people with a conviction record.
• Campaign activities: Requires creating an informational website and staffing a hotline service.
• One-time appropriation: This funding is a one-time allocation.

Implementation and Administration

• Oversight: Administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development.
• Deliverables: An online information resource (website) and a helpline (hotline) to support the campaign.

Relationship to Existing Law

• The bill does not change existing statutes but provides a targeted funding source to support outreach about second-chance hiring and related incentives.

Financial Details and Timeline

• Total funding: $400,000 combined over two fiscal years (FY 2026 and FY 2027).
• Allocation nature: One-time appropriation from the workforce development fund.

Expected Impact

• Increased awareness among employers about second-chance hiring.
• Potentially higher employment opportunities for individuals with conviction records due to better understanding of benefits and available incentives.

Relevant Terms second-chance hiring conviction record incentives state and federal law informational website hotline service workforce development fund commissioner of employment and economic development appropriation fiscal year 2026 fiscal year 2027 one-time appropriation