Employment applications; inquiries regarding criminal arrests, charges, or convictions. (SB250)
Introduced By
Sen. Don McEachin (D-Richmond) with support from co-patron Del. Rob Krupicka (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Employment applications; inquiries regarding criminal arrests, charges, or convictions. Prohibits state agencies from including on any employment application a question inquiring whether the prospective employee has ever been arrested or charged with, or convicted of, any crime, subject to certain exceptions. A prospective employee may not be asked if he has ever been convicted of any crime unless the inquiry takes place after the prospective employee has received a conditional offer of employment, which offer may be withdrawn if the prospective employee has a conviction record that bears a rational relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position. A prospective employee may not be asked if he has ever been arrested or charged with a crime unless the inquiry takes place after the prospective employee has received a conditional offer of employment, which offer may be withdrawn if (i) the prospective employee's criminal arrest or charge resulted in the prospective employee's conviction of a crime and (ii) the crime of which he was convicted bears a rational relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Localities are authorized to prohibit such inquiries. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/03/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14102071D |
01/03/2014 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
02/03/2014 | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (11-Y 4-N) |
02/05/2014 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) |
02/06/2014 | Read second time |
02/06/2014 | Reading of amendment waived |
02/06/2014 | Committee amendment agreed to |
02/06/2014 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB250E |
02/06/2014 | Printed as engrossed 14102071D-E |
02/07/2014 | Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) |
02/07/2014 | Impact statement from DPB (SB250E) |
02/12/2014 | Placed on Calendar |
02/12/2014 | Read first time |
02/12/2014 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
02/18/2014 | Referred from General Laws |
02/18/2014 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
02/20/2014 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law |
02/26/2014 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
03/04/2014 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill because it protects employers and give people a second chance to make an honest living. SB 250 prohibits state agencies from including on any employment application a question inquiring whether the prospective employee has ever been arrested or charged with, or convicted of, any crime, subject to certain exceptions. After an employment offer is made, the state agency may ask if the prospective employee has been convicted of a specific crime or type of crime that bears a rational relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position. SB 250 is a win, win! It protects state agencies and ensures that Virginians are judged on their merit, and not their mistakes.
Please help us with support to "Ban the Box" in Virginia! Take Action Now! http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6220/c/1529/p/dia/action3/common/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=16312 We have a coalition who will be contacting legislators in the House to get SB 250 to its final passage!! We also want to thank Senator Jill Vogel from Winchester who stood as the lone Republican to pass this bill in the Senate on a vote of 21 Y to 19 N. Senator Vogel spoke on the Floor of her most loyal and devoted employees being those who had been formerly convicted. Many Senators stood in support and Senator McEachin was a powerful patron as always!