Baltimore Passes Bill to “Ban-the-Box” on Criminal Background Checks
Special Announcement to all City of Baltimore employers:
On April 28, 2014, the City of Baltimore, MD passed an ordinance, “Ban-the-Box”, that restricts employers in the city from asking about criminal background information.
Under the ordinance, the following restrictions, among others, will apply:
In connection with the proposed employment of any applicant, a covered employer may not, at any time before a conditional offer of employment has been extended:
1) Require the applicant to disclose or reveal whether he or she has a criminal history report
2) Conduct a criminal history check on the applicant; OR
3) Otherwise, make any inquiry of the applicant or others about whether the applicant has a criminal background report
There are some exceptions regarding inquiries into criminal history:
1) Actions expressly required or authorized by law
2) Facilities servicing minors or vulnerable adults
The full text of this ordinance is available here: City of Baltimore Ordinance Council Bill 13-0301
This law will require a review of the hiring process in place and may require changes to that process. In order to comply with this law, Justifacts recommends that you consult with your legal department. This will help your company determine what changes, if any, need to be made to your hiring process.
It is important to note that Justifacts is providing this information as a service to our clients. None of the information contained herein should be construed as legal advice, nor is Justifacts engaged to provide legal advice. We go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful. We recommend you consult your attorney or legal department if you want assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.
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