Iowa Senate panel considers ‘ban the box’ proposal

[cigaretteman]

Senate lawmakers in Iowa on Tuesday considered a “ban the box” bill that would limit when employers can ask job applicants about their criminal histories, and the legislation could have momentum after Gov. Terry Branstad made a criminal justice overhaul a priority in his annual speech to the Legislature.

A three-member panel of the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the bill Tuesday but took no action. They plan to meet soon to decide whether to advance the legislation to a full committee.

The bill would prohibit an employer or employment agency from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history until the applicant has been selected for an interview or after he or she has been given a conditional job offer.

Supporters say the bill offers a second chance to applicants who have been turned down for work.

Critics say the legislation could be a liability to employers and subject them to lawsuits.

http://www.omaha.com/news/iowa/sena...cle_1dbb3aaa-8c23-5ef8-a549-956985fca257.html

 

[artradley]

Senate lawmakers in Iowa on Tuesday considered a “ban the box” bill that would limit when employers can ask job applicants about their criminal histories, and the legislation could have momentum after Gov. Terry Branstad made a criminal justice overhaul a priority in his annual speech to the Legislature.

A three-member panel of the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the bill Tuesday but took no action. They plan to meet soon to decide whether to advance the legislation to a full committee.

The bill would prohibit an employer or employment agency from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history until the applicant has been selected for an interview or after he or she has been given a conditional job offer.

Supporters say the bill offers a second chance to applicants who have been turned down for work.

Critics say the legislation could be a liability to employers and subject them to lawsuits.

http://www.omaha.com/news/iowa/sena...cle_1dbb3aaa-8c23-5ef8-a549-956985fca257.html

It is a bad situation in that we send tons of people to prison, then when we send them back into the mainstream we make it almost impossible for them to get a job. When they turn back to crime, we then consider them incorrigible.

 

[Trevor4Iowa]

It is a bad situation in that we send tons of people to prison, then when we send them back into the mainstream we make it almost impossible for them to get a job. When they turn back to crime, we then consider them incorrigible.

Most here will say they are all criminal bums without hope and forget they are human beings.

 

[BondHawk]

I wonder why Terry wants felons to be able to interview for jobs, yet won't let them vote?

 

[The Tradition]

Yeah, I want an ax murderer working in my office. Who doesn't?

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

I wonder why Terry wants felons to be able to interview for jobs, yet won't let them vote?

So they actually pay taxes?

 

[cigaretteman]

So they actually pay taxes?

Yes, many of them actually do. Not that it matters.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Yes, many of them actually do. Not that it matters.

Explain to me how? How do you pay taxes with no income?

 

[mstp1992]

Yeah, I want an ax murderer working in my office. Who doesn't?

I'm wondering how many paroled ax murderers would be applying for a white collar job.

Now, as a lumber jack, I could see that as a marketable skill.

More to the point of this proposition, I believe this would simply eliminate the question on the original application form. The employer then would be able to inquire about criminal history during the interview process.

 

[cigaretteman]

Explain to me how? How do you pay taxes with no income?

The subjects are those felons who have successfully completed their sentences, and have been released. The proposed legislation would make it less difficult for them to obtain employment, and, therefore pay taxes and be much less likely to return to a life of crime.

 

[cigaretteman]

I'm wondering how many paroled ax murderers would be applying for a white collar job.

Now, as a lumber jack, I could see that as a marketable skill.

More to the point of this proposition, I believe this would simply eliminate the question on the original application form. The employer then would be able to inquire about criminal history during the interview process.

Yep, as the article says, it would simply remove the check box on the initial application form asking the applicant about their criminal history. This would help eliminate applicants from being summarily rejected from hiring on that basis. The prospective employer would be free to inquire into the applicant's criminal history should the applicant reach the interview stage.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

The subjects are those felons who have successfully completed their sentences, and have been released. The proposed legislation would make it less difficult for them to obtain employment, and, therefore pay taxes and be much less likely to return to a life of crime.

usually they get so much earned income tax credit they pay negative taxes, or actually make money off the irs. make a profit. that's how it is around here in TX. the earned income tax credit is a money maker for the poors around here. shake your money maker.

 

[isufan21]

Yep, as the article says, it would simply remove the check box on the initial application form asking the applicant about their criminal history. This would help eliminate applicants from being summarily rejected from hiring on that basis. The prospective employer would be free to inquire into the applicant's criminal history should the applicant reach the interview stage.

I don't see this changing much the first thing I do as an employer in Iowa is go to Iowa Courts Online and Sex offender registries. It doesn't matter to me what they write on the form in that section, I will look up and verify the information myself prior to an interview taking place.

 

[artradley]

I don't see this changing much the first thing I do as an employer in Iowa is go to Iowa Courts Online and Sex offender registries. It doesn't matter to me what they write on the form in that section, I will look up and verify the information myself prior to an interview taking place.

wtf? What kind of jobs do you have where you expect felons and sex offenders to apply at such a rate that you need to filter them out first?

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

I don't see this changing much the first thing I do as an employer in Iowa is go to Iowa Courts Online and Sex offender registries. It doesn't matter to me what they write on the form in that section, I will look up and verify the information myself prior to an interview taking place.

As an employer doing those checks, then you are probably already aware that some deferred judgements in Iowa will not show up on either Iowa courts online, offender registries, or any of the other background check systems. You have to do an Iowa DCI check to get that information.

 

[isufan21]

wtf? What kind of jobs do you have where you expect felons and sex offenders to apply at such a rate that you need to filter them out first?

I don't believe I ever used the word felon. When you are hiring people that are handling money on a daily basis it is important to at least look at their past, specifically so you can question them about it in an interview. Please note I didn't say anything about not hiring people with records, just that I want to be aware of them.

As an employer doing those checks, then you are probably already aware that some deferred judgements in Iowa will not show up on either Iowa courts online, offender registries, or any of the other background check systems. You have to do an Iowa DCI check to get that information.

I don't go that deep, I do realize that Iowa courts Online is not the end all be all system for doing background checks. But it is easy to use and provides a ton of information.