1     
STATE JOB APPLICATIONS PROCESS

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Sandra Hollins

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Senate Sponsor: ____________

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies general labor provisions.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     provides that a public employer may not require an applicant to disclose a past
14     criminal conviction before an initial interview for employment; and
15          ▸     provides exemptions for certain public employers.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     ENACTS:
22          34-51-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23          34-51-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24          34-51-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 34-51-101 is enacted to read:

28     
CHAPTER 51. REDUCING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR

29     
INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS

30          34-51-101. Title.
31          This chapter is known as "Reducing Barriers to Employment for Individuals with
32     Criminal Records."
33          Section 2. Section 34-51-102 is enacted to read:
34          34-51-102. Definitions.
35          As used in this chapter:
36          (1) "Applicant" means an individual who provides information to a public employer for
37     the purpose of obtaining employment.
38          (2) "Criminal conviction" means a verdict or finding of guilt after a criminal trial or a
39     plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal charge.
40          (3) "Public employer" means an employer that is:
41          (a) the state or any administrative subunit of the state, including a department, division,
42     board, council, committee, institution, office, bureau, or other similar administrative unit of
43     state government;
44          (b) a state institution of higher education; or
45          (c) a municipal corporation, county, municipality, school district, local district, special
46     service district, or other political subdivision of the state.
47          Section 3. Section 34-51-201 is enacted to read:
48          34-51-201. Employer requirements.
49          (1) A public employer may not exclude an applicant from an initial interview because
50     of a past criminal conviction.
51          (2) A public employer excludes an applicant from an initial interview if the public
52     employer:
53          (a) requires an applicant to disclose on an employment application a criminal
54     conviction;
55          (b) requires an applicant to disclose, before an initial interview, a criminal conviction;
56     or
57          (c) if no interview is conducted, requires an applicant to disclose, before making a
58     conditional offer of employment, a criminal conviction.

59          (3) Subject to Subsections (1) and (2), nothing in this section prevents an employer
60     from:
61          (a) asking an applicant for information about an applicant's criminal conviction history
62     during an initial interview or after an initial interview; or
63          (b) considering an applicant's conviction history when making a hiring decision.
64          (4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply:
65          (a) if federal, state, or local law, including corresponding administrative rules, requires
66     the consideration of an applicant's criminal conviction history;
67          (b) to a public employer that is a law enforcement agency;
68          (c) to a public employer that is part of the criminal justice system; or
69          (d) to a public employer seeking a nonemployee volunteer.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel