Gov. Tom Wolf has signed Senate Bill 637, which removes outdated licensing barriers so skilled workers with criminal records can get a second chance and start good careers. The governor has advocated for sweeping changes to the licensing process for years.
The governor proposed reforms to job licensing requirements and licensing boards to remove barriers to employment so skilled workers can enter the jobs of their choice.
In 2017, the governor signed an executive order requiring a review of job licensing with a comparison to other states and a task force appointed by the governor issued a report in 2018 outlining many proposals to cut red tape and modernize job licensing.
The reforms included removing outdated criminal record restrictions. One in five Pennsylvanians needs an occupational license from a board or commission to do their job, representing more than one million workers.
