Public employment; inquiries by state agencies and localities regarding criminal convictions. (SB1171)

Introduced By

Sen. Roz Dance (D-Petersburg) with support from co-patron Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Public employment; inquiries by state agencies and localities regarding criminal convictions, charges, and arrests. 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inquiry takes place after the prospective employee has received a conditional offer of employment, which offer may be withdrawn if the prospective employee has a conviction record that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the position.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inquiry takes place after the prospective employee has received a conditional offer of employment, which offer may be withdrawn if (i) the prospective employee's criminal arrest or charge resulted in the prospective employee's conviction of a crime and (ii) the crime of which he was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 directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the position. The prohibition does not apply to applications for employment with law-enforcement agencies or certain positions designated as sensitive or in instances where a state agency is expressly permitted to inquire into an individual's criminal history for employment purposes pursuant to any provision of federal or state law. The bill also authorizes localities to prohibit such inquiries. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2017Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102137D
01/10/2017Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/17/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB1171)
01/23/2017Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2017Read second time and engrossed
01/27/2017Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 17-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2017Placed on Calendar
01/31/2017Read first time
01/31/2017Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/06/2017Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4
02/21/2017Left in General Laws

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 3 minutes.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.

CLIENTS HAVE UTILIZEED OUR TAX CREDITS TO INVIGORATE OTHERWISE THREATENED PROPERTIES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO PRESERVING VIRGINIA'S RICH AND DIVERSE HISTORY. SHE HAILS FROM CLARK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AND I ASK YOU PLEASE EXTEND TO HER THE VERY WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. THANK YOU, SENATOR. PLEASE RISE, IF YOU'RE WITH US. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRIP AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR PRESERVING OUR HISTORY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. I'D ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN OFFERING THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. (APPLAUSE). THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM RICHMOND SENATOR, SENATOR STURDIVANT. MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. MR. PRESIDENT TODAY, OUR OPENING PRAYER WAS OFFERED BY THE REVEREND LEON BENJAMIN OF NEW LIFE HARVEST CHURCH HERE IN RICHMOND. LEON IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, A RICHMOND NATIVE. HE ATTENDED HUGUENOT HIGH SCHOOL AT AND VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY. THEY HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, DELL CARMEN, DESTINY AND LEON JUNIOR. I OPEN YOU WILL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING REVEREND BENJAMIN IN THANKING HIM FOR THE INSPIRATIONAL START TO OUR DAY HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, SENATOR. WOULD REVEREND BENJAMIN PLEASE RISE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH WHAT A WONDERFUL MESSAGE YOU US THIS MORNING. GAVE US. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE LIVES THAT YOU TOUCH IN YOUR WORK. I'D ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN OFFERING REVEREND LEON BENJAMIN THE WARM WELCOME OF THE SENATE. (APPLAUSE). THE SENATOR FROM ROANOKE CITY, SENATOR EDWARDS.

Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke): MR. PRESIDENT, ON TWO MATTERS, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR MY DESK MATE, THE SENATOR FROM BATH WHO IS OUT OF THE CAPITAL IN ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE ON VERY PRESSING PERSONAL BUSINESS.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE JOURNAL WILL REFLECT THAT THE SENATOR FROM BATH COUNTY, SENATOR DEEDS, IS AWAY FROM THE CAPITAL ON PRESSING PERSONAL BUSINESS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SENATOR.

Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville): AND SECONDLY, MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A GROUP FROM ROANOKE. THEY GO TO VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THEY'RE STUDYING DENTAL HIGH GENERALISTRY. BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME TO THE SENATE, A GROUP OF VIRGINIA DENTAL HYGIENISTS AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION VISITING THE CAPITAL PROMOTING GOOD DENTAL CARE, GOOD ORAL HEALTH, AND ALSO PROMOTING THE PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTRY.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU. SENATOR. WOULD MEMBERS FROM THE DENTAL HYGIENE ASSOCIATION PLEASE RISE. WOW, WHAT A GREAT GROUP. I GUESS, WHO'S DOING THE TEETH CLEANING TODAY WHILE YOU ALL ARE HERE? THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU DO. WE ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHO DOES THE REAL WORK IN THE DENTAL OFFICE, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.