02/23/2024
February 27, 2024 Labor Commerce Committee, SB 158
Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo Commissioner
Department of Labor
Commerce Committee
February 27, 2024
Good morning, Senator Hartley, Representative Meskers, Senator Rahman, Representative Fazzino, Senator Martin, Representative Harrison, and members of the Commerce Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding SB 158: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF BACKGROUND CHECKS ON DEFENSE INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT AND A STUDY OF STATE EMPLOYMENT OUTREACH EFFORTS. My name is Danté Bartolomeo, and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor.
The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) appreciates that the intent of SB 158 is to explore the possible impact that background checks have on employment opportunities within the state's defense industry. More specifically, Section 1 of the bill requires CTDOL to “…conduct a study of the impact of background checks on employment opportunities within the state's defense industry, with an emphasis on assisting such individuals in obtaining employment within such industry.”
CTDOL would be glad to participate in any conversation that the Commerce Committee would like to have regarding barriers that workers may face obtaining employment in the state’s defense industry. However, we would like to respectfully express several concerns with this proposal as currently written.
CTDOL’s primary concern is that our agency does not have access to the data needed to conduct a study that examines best practices, policies, and initiatives for assisting individuals, who were formerly incarcerated for offenses that did not involve violence or sexual assault, in obtaining gainful employment within the defense industry. Through the state’s Preschool to Twenty Workforce Information Network (P20WIN), CTDOL has access to Department of Corrections’ data that could be matched with wage records to determine if any formerly incarcerated individuals are employed in defense-related industries. However, we would not have any data regarding those who might have been denied employment because they failed a background check – or even those who may have chosen not to apply because they expected to fail. It should also be considered that previous incarceration is not the only criteria that can automatically result in an individual being deemed ineligible for employment. Some companies are known to eliminate a candidate from consideration based solely upon the prospective
employee’s credit rating.
CTDOL’s secondary concern is that the language of the bill suggests the study should be conducted “with an emphasis on assisting such individuals in obtaining employment within such industry”. However, since prospective employees of defense contractors are often subject to Department of Defense or other background checks as a federal requirement of their hiring, we question whether this study would result in recommendations or changes to policy that could be enacted at the state level.
In summary, if SB 158 were to pass as written, it would require CTDOL to hire a consultant with some expertise in both best practices and the policies of the defense contractors about hiring (or refusing to hire) due to background checks. It is our position that a consultant would be costly, and the results may not be substantial enough to produce an acceptable return on the State’s investment.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify, and we look forward to continuing to work with you on ways to help our state’s employers and job seekers.
Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer