Bill > HB135

This bill, known as the "Ban-the-Box Act," prohibits public employers in Mississippi from using criminal history as a preliminary bar to employment. The key provisions of the bill are as follows: 1. It defines "public employer" to include the state government and its various agencies, departments, and institutions, but excludes private employers, the legal profession, and certain public bodies involved in appointment and confirmation processes. 2. It prohibits public employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history until the applicant has signed a waiver, is being considered for a specific position, and has received an interview. 3. If a background check reveals a criminal history, the public employer must consider factors such as the nature and gravity of the offense, the time elapsed since the offense, the applicant's age at the time of the offense, the relevance of the offense to the employment, and any information on the applicant's rehabilitation. 4. The bill specifies that a record of arrest that did not result in conviction shall not be the basis for disqualification from public employment. 5. The public employer must inform the applicant of a potential adverse employment decision based on the background check and provide an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate that the information is inaccurate. 6. The bill grants jurisdiction over complaints or grievances alleging violations of the Act to the circuit court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County. The bill is intended to encourage similar hiring practices by private employers, local governments, and other political subdivisions in Mississippi.