Employer Hiring Criminal History Employee

The bill generally prohibits an employer from:

• Advertising that a person with a criminal history may not apply for a position;
• Placing a statement in an employment application that a person with a criminal history may not apply for a position; or
• Making an inquiry about a candidate's arrests or criminal convictions until the candidate has been offered an interview or a conditional offer of employment.

An employer is exempt from these restrictions when:

• The law forbids a person from being employed on account of a criminal conviction or requires an employer to consider a candidate's criminal history for the job;
• The employer is participating in a program to encourage employment of people with criminal histories; or
• The job requires a fidelity bond and the criminal history would disqualify the candidate.

An employer must keep applications for 9 months. The department of labor and employment will enforce the section with civil penalties. A violation of the restrictions does not create a private cause of action.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)