What the Fair Chance Act Means for Government Contractors

by Peter Suciu - ClearanceJobs

The “Fair Chance Act” was signed into law as 2019 came to a close, just one part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It prohibits federal contractors that have openings for positions within the scope of federal contracts, as well as all federal agencies, from inquiring about or otherwise seeking criminal history information from an applicant until after a conditional job offer has been extended.

Read more: https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/01/14/what-the-fair-chance-act-means-for-government-contractors/

Lawsuit alleges Waterloo broke the law with “ban the box”

by Collin Dorsey - KWWL.com

The lawsuit filed against the City of Waterloo by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry alleges Waterloo is violating state law with the controversial "ban the box" ordinance.

The lawsuit cited a section of Iowa code that was championed by the Iowa ABI and was passed in 2017. It reads a city cannot pass any ordinance exceeding or conflicting with federal or state laws relating to hiring practices.

Read more: https://kwwl.com/2020/01/06/waterloo-facing-suit-over-ban-the-box/

Booker, Johnson’s “Ban the Box” Bill Passes House

Press Release from booker.senate.gov 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill authored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) to give formerly incarcerated individuals a better chance to find employment passed the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It will now be considered by the full Senate.

Read more: https://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1031

U of I System Moves, But Doesn’t ‘Ban The Box’ On Applications

by Lee V. Gaines - will.iiinois.edu

Prospective undergraduate students applying to the University of Illinois’ three campuses won’t be asked about their criminal histories until after they’ve been admitted.

The change is reflected in the fall 2020 undergraduate application, and was in effect for some transfer students who applied for the upcoming spring 2020 semester, according to university officials.

Read more: https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/u-of-i-system-moves-but-doesnt-ban-the-box-on-applications

Missteps with background check forms can be costly

By: Brian D. Carlson - The Idaho Business Review

A recent decision by a federal appellate court underscores the importance of ensuring that forms used in connection with employer background checks comply with the strict requirements of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Read More: https://idahobusinessreview.com/2019/11/28/missteps-with-background-check-forms-can-be-costly/

Berkeley could ban criminal background checks in rental housing

By Natalie Orenstein - Berkeleyside

“Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”

For most prospective tenants in Berkeley, the question is a routine one, a quick “No” box to check on a housing application, in between the sections on employment history and personal references. But for residents who’ve been incarcerated, they know their “Yes” answer likely guarantees their application is destined for the recycling bin.

For years, the “Ban the Box” movement has pushed to prohibit employers from conducting criminal background checks on job candidates. Now several elected officials and a coalition of activists want Berkeley to become a rare city that prohibits the practice during the rental process too.

Read more: https://www.berkeleyside.com/2019/11/12/berkeley-could-ban-criminal-background-checks-in-rental-housing

Proposed Bill May Require Background Checks on Delivery Drivers

by Mackenna Moralez - Supply & Demand Chain Executive

After a woman in Boca Raton, Florida was murdered in her home by a delivery driver, a proposed bill would require background checks on delivery personnel.

In August, Evelyn Udell Smith of Boca Raton, Florida died after Jorge Luis Dupre Lachazo reportedly beat her death after delivering packages for Best Buy. Lachazo was employed by J.B. Hunt. 

According to the South Florida SunSentinel, delivery men showed up to deliver and install a new washer and dryer to Udell's home. Lachazo's delivery partner, David Gonzalez stepped outside to return some missed calls while Lachazo stayed inside to reportedly show Udell how to use her new appliances when the murder allegedly took place. 

Read more: https://www.sdcexec.com/transportation/news/21096909/proposed-bill-may-require-background-checks-on-delivery-drivers

Alderman wants to 'ban the box' about criminal history from all job applications in St. Louis

by Sara Machi - KSDK

ST. LOUIS — John Collins-Muhammad said he personally knows people who benefitted when St. Louis banned questions about prior criminal history from city job applications.

"I know a bunch of people that have benefited from this," Collins Muhammad, Ward 21 Alderman said. "I want to see everybody benefit from this."

He is now proposing to "ban the box," prohibiting all employers from using the questions on initial job applications.

"So many times we see it, when you mark that box, that's it for you, go try somewhere else," he said.

Read more: https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/alderman-ban-box-prior-criminal-history/63-307edc1e-f03a-4ec3-852f-a663fc1c782b

Mayors, Police Chiefs Send Letter to Senate Leaders Urging Background Check Legislation

by U.S. Conference of Mayors - PRNewswire

Today, on behalf of the nation's mayors and the police chiefs of major cities across America, the Presidents of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Major Cities Chiefs Association sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) calling on them to consider needed legislation that would establish a stronger system of background checks covering all firearms purchases.

"Our communities cannot afford to wait any longer for the federal government to address the epidemic of gun violence. We know that bipartisan, sensible gun safety legislation will make our cities safer without compromising gun owners' rights. That is why we are calling upon Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to consider legislation that would ensure all firearms purchases go through our background check system," said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Bryan Barnett, Mayor of Rochester Hills (MI).

Read more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mayors-police-chiefs-send-letter-to-senate-leaders-urging-background-check-legislation-300946295.html

How companies are putting ex-offenders back to work

by Julie Cook Ramirez - Human Resource Executive

Low unemployment and the desire for a more diverse workforce are leading employers to do what was once unthinkable: hire the formerly incarcerated.

One of America’s leading healthcare organizations, Johns Hopkins Medicine, consistently ranks at or near the top for excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. The Baltimore, Md.-based alliance of the Johns Hopkins Health System and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine receives nearly 3 million patients and over 360,000 emergency-room visits annually across more than 40 care locations. That sheer volume of patient interactions and elite medical education and research requires an enormous staff of more than 40,000 full-time faculty and staff members, making Johns Hopkins one of Maryland’s largest private employers and the largest in Baltimore City.

Read more: https://hrexecutive.com/how-companies-are-putting-ex-offenders-back-to-work/