The Michigan Legislature passed House Bills 4488-4492 today. The bill package redefines the term "good moral character" in state law to ensure only severe crimes directly related an occupation can prevent job-seeking individuals from obtaining an occupational license. The following is a statement from Jarrett Skorup, director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center.

Nearly one million jobs in Michigan require a state license, which mandates fees, classroom time, training hours, exams and more. The vast majority of these licenses restrict people with any type of criminal record from getting a license, including roofers, cosmetologists, barbers, nurses, security guards and many other jobs in high-demand fields. A past mistake should not automatically prevent people from honest work in an occupation of their choice. This is a great move by Michigan lawmakers which will help ex-offenders, job creators and the public.

The Mackinac Center has a database of every occupational license in Michigan as well as two studies on how these regulatory rules affect the state at www.mackinac.org/licensing.