[Alberta's Child]

Senator Glen Jeffries (D-Putnam, 08) introduced the bill after meeting with several business owners who wanted to hire people, but were not able to due to their previous felony convictions.

This line is confusing to me. Is there a law in West Virginia that prohibits a private employer from hiring a convicted felon?

I suspect this is not the case, and that the business owners cited here really just refrain from hiring felons to protect themselves from potential civil lawsuits by customers or fellow employees if the worker causes trouble on the job. If this is true, then are the business owners simply asking the state to help protect them by hiding the criminal records of prospective employees?

[buckalfa]

"If this is true, then are the business owners simply asking the state to help protect them by hiding the criminal records of prospective employees?"

Perceptive observation. Almost all legislation is based on promoting or protecting special interests.

[Nailbiter]

Could be that insurance industry has say in hiring

Higher insurance cost for employing felons perhaps

[48th SPS Crusader]

This line is confusing to me. Is there a law in West Virginia that prohibits a private employer from hiring a convicted felon?

Certain types of jobs do not allow employment with felony convictions. Security, some healthcare, teaching etc.