LAWS GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES

(The laws governing the issuance of certificates of relief from disabilities are set forth in Article 23 of the New York State Correction Law. The excerpts below summarize certain portions of those laws and are set forth merely for convenience. They are not intended as administrative interpretations and they do not relieve any party of full knowledge of and compliance with the applicable provisions of law.)

This certificate is issued to relieve the holder, an "eligible offender" as defined 700 of the Correction Law, of all or of enumerated forfeitures, disabilities, or bars to employment automatically imposed by law by reason of his conviction of the crime or offense specified on the face of this certificate.

This certificate shall be considered a "temporary certificate" where (1) issued by a court to a holder who is under a "revocable sentence: as defined in 700 of the Correction Law and the court's authority to revoke such sentence has not expired, or (2) issued by the State Board of Parole and the holder is still under the supervision of the Board. Where the holder is under a revocable sentence, this certificate may be revoked by the court for violation of the conditions of such sentence and shall be revoked by the court if it revokes the sentence and commits the holder to an institution under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Correctional Services. Where the holder is subject to the supervision of the State Board of Parole, this certificate may be revoked by the Board for violation of the conditions of parole or release. Any such revocation shall be upon notice and after an opportunity to be heard. If this certificate is not so revoked, it shall become a permanent certificate upon expiration or termination of the court's authority to revoke the sentence or upon termination of the jurisdiction of the Board of Parole over the holder.

Where the certificate is issued by a court at the time sentence is pronounced, it covers forfeitures as well as disabilities. In any other case the certificate applies only to disabilities.

A conviction of the crime or the offense specified on the face of this certificate shall NOT cause automatic forfeiture of any license, permit, employment or franchise, including the right to register for or vote at an election, or automatic forfeiture of any other right or privilege, held by the eligible offender and covered by the certificate. Nor shall such conviction be deemed to be a conviction within

the meaning of any provision of law that imposes, by reason of a conviction, a bar to any employment, a disability to exercise any right or a disability to apply for or to receive any license, permit or other authority or privilege, covered by the certificate. Provided, however, that no such certificate shall apply,

or be construed so as to apply, to the right of such person to retain or to be eligible for public office.

A conviction of the crime or the offense specified on the face of this certificate shall NOT prevent any judicial, administrative, licensing or other body, board or authority from relying upon the conviction specified on the reverse side of this certificate as the basis for the exercise of its discretionary power to suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or renew any license, permit or other authority or privilege.