Qualification for employment as a correction officer

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