ban the box
Colorado poised to ‘ban the box’
Colorado appears poised to join a number of states that prohibit employers from inquiring into a job applicant’s criminal history on an initial employment application. On April 30, 2019, the Colorado legislature sent House Bill 19-1025 to Governor Polis’ desk. Assuming Governor Polis signs the Bill, Colorado will join a number of other states and…
Read MoreNew Mexico bans the box for private employers
Earlier this month, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 96 (SB 96), the “Criminal Offender Employment Act”. This bill will ‘ban the box‘ by prohibiting private employers in the state from inquiring about a job applicant’s arrest or conviction history on an initial employment application. “Senate Bill 96, a bipartisan piece of…
Read MoreSouth Carolina weighing up 'ban the box' legislation
Several bills are pending in South Carolina state legislature right now that could have a significant impact on employers across the state. One of the most significant is House Bill 3463: a ‘ban the box‘ proposal that would prohibit employment applications from including questions related to convictions of a crime, unless the crime directly relates…
Read MoreU.S. Virgin Islands joins 'ban the box' movement
Last month, the U.S. Virgin Islands joined the ‘ban the box’ movement by enacting legislation regulating employers’ use of the criminal records of applicants and employees. The new Virgin Islands law: Prohibits employers from asking an applicant to disclose any information concerning: (i) an arrest or detention that did not result in a conviction; (ii)…
Read MoreNew Orleans 'bans the box' for city contractors
The New Orleans City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that prevents city contractors from asking about potential hires’ criminal history on their job applications — a measure that extends an existing City Hall policy to people who want to work under employers with city contracts, cooperative endeavor grants or grant funding. Sponsored by Councilwoman Kristin…
Read MoreMassachusetts modifies 'ban the box' laws
A provision in the Massachusetts criminal justice reform law that amends the state’s restrictions on the questions employers may ask a job applicant regarding the applicant’s criminal history during the hiring process has taken effect. The new restrictions, in effect as of October 13, 2018, include an adjusted limitation on asking about misdemeanor convictions and a…
Read MoreKansas City 'bans the box' for private employers
Missouri has become the latest state to ‘ban the box’ for private employers, with Kansas City adopting a ‘ban the box’ ordinance to bar private and public employers from asking applicants about criminal records and delay such inquiries until later in the hiring process. Kansas City government adopted the policy for most city employees in…
Read MoreArizona 'bans the box' with Second Chance Box policy
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission won nearly $500 million for victims of discrimination in the workplace in fiscal year 2017 and reduced its inventory of unresolved discrimination charges to its lowest level in a decade, the agency said in a release on their website. The EEOC secured approximately $484 million, including $355.6 million in monetary…
Read MoreUniversity of California 'bans the box'
according to a news release. Instead, information about prior convictions will be requested during the background and reference check stage, after applicants have advanced to the final stage in the hiring process based on their qualifications, talents and skills. The policy will be implemented as early as October. “This change to UC’s hiring process creates…
Read MoreIndiana, Pennsylvania, and Vermont 'ban the box' legislation
‘ban the box’ trend we’ve seen over the last couple of years. Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Vermont introduced laws, now in effect, that remove the box on job applications that applicants are asked to check if they have a criminal history. Indiana On April 27, 2017, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law Senate Bill 312 (SB…
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