The General Assembly finds that the public is best protected when criminal offenders are rehabilitated and returned to society prepared to take their places as productive citizens and that the ability of returned offenders to find meaningful employment is directly related to their normal functioning in the community. It is therefore the policy of this state to encourage all employers to give favorable consideration to providing jobs to qualified individuals, including those who may have conviction information, as defined in section 54-142g. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any employer to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment or to discriminate against an individual in compensation or in terms of employment on the basis of such individual’s erased criminal history record information, as defined in section 46a-80a.