Section 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.