Bill > HB0156

This bill, known as "Reducing Barriers to Employment for Individuals with Criminal Records," enacts a new chapter in the Utah Code to address the state job application process. The key provisions include: 1) prohibiting public employers from excluding applicants from initial interviews due to past criminal convictions, with some exceptions, such as for law enforcement and jobs involving children or vulnerable adults; 2) prohibiting public employers from requiring applicants to disclose criminal convictions on the initial job application or before the first interview; and 3) allowing public employers to still ask about and consider an applicant's criminal history during the interview or after making a conditional job offer. The bill aims to provide greater opportunities for individuals with criminal records to obtain employment with public employers in Utah.