S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2556
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 20, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES, MOSLEY, ROBERTS -- Multi-Spon-
sored by -- M. of A. BRENNAN, COOK, PERRY, WRIGHT -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to prohibiting employers from
inquiring about an applicant's criminal arrests or convictions during
the application process
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 201-g to
read as follows:
S 201-G. PROHIBITION AGAINST UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST APPLICANTS
FOR LICENSING OR FOR EMPLOYMENT PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF
CRIMINAL OFFENSES. 1. IN CONNECTION WITH THE LICENSING OR EMPLOYMENT OF
ANY PERSON, NO EMPLOYER SHALL KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY:
A. MAKE ANY INQUIRY ABOUT OR TAKE ANY ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST ANY
PERSON ON THE BASIS OF ANY ARREST OR CRIMINAL ACCUSATION MADE AGAINST
SUCH PERSON, WHICH IS NOT THEN PENDING AGAINST THAT PERSON AND WHICH DID
NOT RESULT IN A CONVICTION; OR
B. REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO DISCLOSE OR REVEAL ANY ARREST OR CRIMINAL
ACCUSATION MADE AGAINST SUCH PERSON WHICH IS NOT THEN PENDING AGAINST
THAT PERSON AND WHICH DID NOT RESULT IN A CONVICTION.
2. IN CONNECTION WITH THE LICENSING OR EMPLOYMENT OF ANY PERSON, NO
EMPLOYER SHALL KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY:
A. MAKE ANY INQUIRY REGARDING OR REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO DISCLOSE OR
REVEAL ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THE
APPLICATION PROCESS SHALL BEGIN WHEN THE APPLICANT INQUIRES ABOUT THE
EMPLOYMENT BEING SOUGHT AND SHALL END WHEN AN EMPLOYER HAS ACCEPTED AN
EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION; OR
B. MAKE ANY INQUIRY REGARDING OR REQUIRE A PERSON TO DISCLOSE OR
REVEAL ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AGAINST SUCH PERSON BEFORE AND DURING
THE FIRST INTERVIEW. IF AN EMPLOYER CONDUCTS AN INTERVIEW, THE EMPLOYER
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01406-01-5
A. 2556 2
IS PROHIBITED FROM MAKING ANY INQUIRIES OR GATHERING ANY INFORMATION
REGARDING THE APPLICANT'S CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS. IF THE APPLICANT VOLUN-
TARILY DISCLOSES ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HIS OR HER CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS AT THE INTERVIEW, THE EMPLOYER MAY DISCUSS THE CRIMINAL
CONVICTION DISCLOSED BY THE APPLICANT.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.