CA Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 218 into law today, to assist in reducing the barriers to employment for ex-offenders.

The new bill requires state and municipal governments to first determine if an applicant is qualified for the position he or she has applied for, before inquiring about their past criminal history.

The new bill does not apply if the applicant is applying for a position such as law enforcement or a position which he or she will be working with children, the elderly, or disabled, and other sensitive positions.

It is estimated that one in four adult Californians has an arrest or conviction record. By passing the “ban the box” legislation, California lawmakers hopes people with a conviction history will be able to compete fairly for employment without compromising safety and security on the job.

You can see the entire bill by clicking the link below.

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