Bill would benefit companies that hire felons

February 12, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Companies that hire convicted felons would be eligible for tax credits from the state under legislation being considered in the Ohio Senate.

Sen. Charleta Tavares, a Democrat from Columbus, said Senate Bill 58 would put people to work and help ensure they don’t commit more crimes.

“People who have felony records also have families and financial responsibilities,” she told members of the Senate’s ways and means committee this week. “They deserve the opportunity to get their life back on track.”

SB 58 would create a state tax credit of up to $2,400 for every felon hired within one year of their convictions or of being released from prison. A tax credit is a reduction in the amount of tax owed.

Citing state statistics, Tavares said about 26,000 are released from prisons in Ohio each year; the unemployment rate for those individuals is upward of 87 percent, she said.

“As lawmakers, we have made commitments to the residents of this state that we will create jobs,” she said. “Passing this legislation will demonstrate that we are dedicated to creating opportunities for all Ohioans, including those populations that are hard to employ.”