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'Ban-the-box' bill heads to Kasich for signature
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Public agencies would not be allowed to ask job-seekers about past felony convictions as part of written employment applications, under legislation approved by state lawmakers.
House Bill 56, commonly referred to as the “ban the box” bill, passed the Senate on a vote of 32-1 Wednesday, with the Ohio House concurring on amendments, 90-1. The legislation next heads to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.
The move drew cheers from an advocacy group that’s been urging support for the law changes.
“Today’s vote provides thousands of Ohioans with a second chance at leading a crime-free life,” Holly Harris, executive director of the U.S. Justice Action Network, said in a statement. “Now no applicant for a public-sector job – at the state or local level – will be automatically dismissed before receiving proper consideration. By ‘banning the box’ for public employment, the Senate is expanding employment opportunities for those leaving incarceration to better contribute to society.”
Among other provisions, HB 56 would prohibit public employers from including questions on job applications about past felony convictions.
The prohibition would cover state and local agencies, though some cities and counties could be exempt under home-rule authority permitted in the state constitution.
The bill would not block public employers from checking the criminal records of applicants, if allowed by law. Those employers also could include information on applications noting that certain criminal convictions would preclude the hiring of applicants.
State Rep. Alicia Reece, D-Cincinnati, voiced hope that “ban the box” also could be enacted for private employers.
“This is something that needs to go out into the private sector, as so many people have so many barriers to be able to get jobs, who have turned their lives around, have gone through our system,” she said. “We’ve spent thousands and hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars to rehabilitate them. It’s time for us to be able to put them to work, let them pay taxes and be productive citizens.”