Calif. Bill Prohibiting Criminal History Question on Job Applications Fails

A California Assembly bill – AB 1831 – that would have prohibited cities and counties in the state from requesting criminal background information on initial job applications failed when the Senate Governance and Finance Committee decided not to extend similar restrictions on criminal record inquiries California adopted for state employees in 2010 to local governments, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Introduced by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) to help job seekers with a criminal history compete fairly with other applicants, AB 1831 would have allowed local governments to run background checks after finding the job applicant initially qualified, according to a report from Employment Screening Resources News. The text of the bill, which Dickinson said he will try to re-introduce next year, is available here: California Assembly Bill 1831.