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Sponsor Seeks Ban on Certain Convicted Persons at DJS; Bar and Advocates Urge Careful Drafting (HB 475)

House Judiciary Committee · February 13, 2026

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Summary

HB 475 would bar DJS from hiring people with specified serious felony convictions after audits revealed problematic past hires. The sponsor argued this is a commonsense public-safety step; the MSBA and League of Women Voters warned about rehabilitated credible messengers and urged time-bound or juvenile-era exceptions.

Sponsor presented House Bill 475 to prohibit the Department of Juvenile Services from hiring people with specified serious felony convictions (murder, kidnapping, sex offenses and other enumerated violent crimes). The proposal was prompted by audits and press reports indicating…

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