Pennsylvania ‘bans the box’ on state employee applications

Fair-Chance hiring policy for state agencies that will remove the criminal conviction question, ‘banning the box’, from non-civil service employment applications for agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction. “We have a robust system of supervision and rehabilitative services that gives reentrants to the community all the tools they need to put their lives back on track,…

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Utah joins 'ban the box' movement

‘ban the box’ movement, which has rapidly spread across the country over the last couple of years. Under the new law (HB 156), job applicants who’ve been convicted of a crime won’t have to disclose their criminal record before some job interviews. While the legislation in it’s current format applies only to government jobs, many believe…

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Congress introduces 'ban the box' legislation

according to the National Employment Law Project (NELP). Led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the introduction of the Fair Chance Act (S.842/H.R.1905) and the REDEEM Act (S.827/H.R.1906) set the stage for Congress to launch the debate over how to address the challenging job prospects facing the 70 million adults in the…

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California introduces state-wide 'ban the box' bill

Assembly Bill 1008, which proposes new state-wide restrictions on an employer’s ability to make employment decisions based on an applicant or employee’s criminal records. The bill would make it unlawful for a California employer to: Include on an application for employment any question that seeks the disclosure of an applicant’s criminal history; Inquire into or…

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San Antonio bans the box

growing list of cities and states to remove questions about previous criminal history from job applications. The policy – already adopted in 150 cities and counties and 24 states across the country – requires employers to wait until job applicants have been interviewed before requiring them to declare any criminal history. “I think from a…

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Los Angeles bans the box

recently passed a ‘Fair Chance Initiative’ that will ‘ban the box’ from job applications. It will also delay a pre-employment background check until a conditional offer of employment has been made. The new law applies to all contractors doing business with the City, as well as any private business with more than ten employees. It takes…

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White House announces new commitments to the Fair Chance Business Pledge

the White House launched the Fair Chance Business Pledge. This move set out to encourage companies to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed, including individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system. The pledge represents a call-to-action for all members of the private sector to improve their communities by eliminating…

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Ban the box legislation to take effect in Louisiana on August 1

ban the box law allows employers to ask about criminal history during interviews and perform criminal background checks on applicants. This new legislation will take effect August 1, 2016. The National Employment Law Project estimates 70 million American adults have arrests or convictions in their past that can make it difficult for them to obtain…

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