Bill Summary for S 416 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

Mar 31 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 416 (Public) Filed Wednesday, March 31, 2021
AN ACT REQUIRING THE FAIR ASSESSMENT OF PERSONS WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES BY "BANNING THE BOX" AND PROVIDING THAT HAVING A PHYSICAL ADDRESS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.
Intro. by Mohammed, Batch, deViere.

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Bill summary

Adds a new Article 17, Fair Assessment of Persons for Public Employment, to GS Chapter 126. Defines the following terms as they apply in this Article: (1) criminal history means a state or federal history of conviction for a misdemeanor or felony relevant to an applicant's fitness for public employment but does not include a record of arrest that did not result in a conviction; (2) hiring authority means an agent responsible by law for the hiring of persons for public employment; and (3) public employment means any employment, including seasonal or temporary work, where the State or any local political subdivision of the State is the employer.

Prohibits a hiring authority from (1) asking about or considering the criminal history of an applicant for public employment or (2) including such an inquiry on any initial employment application form until the hiring authority has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. Declares that this provision does not apply to public employment in positions where the hiring authority is required by law to consider the applicant's criminal record. Bars a hiring authority from disqualifying an applicant for public employment because the applicant does not have a physical or street address.

Prohibits any person from being disqualified for public employment solely or in part because of a previous conviction except as otherwise required by law or if the conviction is determined to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the position after all of the following factors are considered: (1) the level and seriousness of the crime; (2) the date of the crime; (3) the age of the person at the time of conviction; (4) the circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime; (5) the connection between the criminal conduct and the duties of the position; (6) the prison, jail, probation, parole, rehabilitation, and employment records of the person since the date the crime was committed; and (7) the subsequent commission of a crime by the person. Clarifies that an arrest record that did not result in a conviction cannot be the basis for disqualification from public employment.

Requires a hiring authority to inform an individual of a potential adverse hiring decision based on the background check and provide the applicant an opportunity to provide evidence that the report is incorrect or inaccurate.

Specifies criteria governing data to be collected by the Office of State Human Resources. 

Declares that the provisions of this Article apply to all applicants for public employment and all public employers, except as otherwise provided.

Adds to the duties of the Human Resources Commission under GS 126-4 to establish policies and rules governing recruitment programs to ensure programs are designed to make a fair assessment of individual qualifications and not designed to adversely affect anyone on account of an individual not having a physical or street address. 

Makes a conforming change to GS 126-5.

Effective when the act becomes law and applies to applications for public employment made on or after that date.