Nebraska Becomes 11th State to Adopt Ban the Box Legislation

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman recently signed a significant criminal justice reform bill that includes a “ban the box” fair-hiring provision, making Nebraska the 11^th state to remove questions about an applicant’s criminal record from state job applications.

 

Enacted on April 17, 2014, the law requires public employers only to postpone asking questions regarding criminal records, both orally and in writing, until after the employer has determined whether the applicant meets the job’s minimum requirements. The purpose of this measure is to give individuals with criminal records a fair chance in the job application process.

Other states that have also passed “Ban the Box” include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. More than 60 counties and cities have also passed ordinances removing the question from public sector job applications.

It is recommended that all employers review their current hiring policies to ensure they are in compliance with current “Ban the Box” legislation and the EEOC Guidelines regarding use of criminal histories in hiring.

 

For a full listing of  the states, cities, counties and municipalities with “Ban the Box” legislation, visit www.carcogroup.com.

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