Qualification for employment as a correction officer

§ 22-a. Qualification for employment as a correction officer. No\nperson, on or after the effective date of this section, may be appointed\nto the position of a correction officer in any institution in the\ndepartment who has been convicted of a felony or of any offense in any\nother jurisdiction which if committed in this state would constitute a\nfelony. The commissioner may in his discretion, bar the appointment of a\nperson, on or after the effective date of this section, to the position\nof correction officer in any institution in the department, who has been\nconvicted of a misdemeanor or of any offense in any other jurisdiction\nwhich if committed in this state would constitute a misdemeanor where he\nhas determined that the employment of such person is not in the best\ninterest of the department. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of\nthis section, no person shall be disqualified pursuant to this section\nunless he shall have first been furnished a written statement of the\nreasons for such disqualification and afforded an opportunity by the\ncommissioner, or his designee, to make an explanation and to submit\nfacts in opposition thereto.\n