The “ban the box” movement, championed by President Barack Obama, scored another success today as a Louisiana Senate committee passed a bill prohibiting applications for state jobs from asking about an applicant’s criminal history.
Voting along party lines, the Senate and Governmental Affairs committee passed House Bill 266 by Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, with a 4-2 vote. All of the committee’s Republican members who were present voted against the bill. If passed by the full Senate, the bill will go to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk to be signed.
HB 266 requires government agencies to remove from applications for nonclassified state government jobs that do not require a criminal background check a question asking applicants if they’ve been convicted of a felony. Unclassified state jobs that currently require background checks would be exempt.
Supporters of the bill said it would help those who’ve passed through the criminal justice system get their foot in the door for gainful employment as they try to move on with their life. Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, said a checked box on an application often acts as an automatic disqualifier, preventing some people who’ve been in the criminal justice system from receiving an interview offer.
“By banning the box, the person is put on equal footing,” Carter said. “It takes away the element of prejudice.”
Even though the question would be removed, Marcelle, the bill’s author, said the proposal does not prevent employers of affected jobs from performing background checks or from asking during a job interview if an applicant has a criminal history.
Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, opposed the bill. Starns said she’s concerned the bill sets a precedent that would eventually lead to the same restriction being applied to private businesses.
In other news, the Senate and Governmental Affairs committee shot down a bill, favorably received in the House, that would have made it more difficult for able-bodied adults to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, for extended periods of time. Federal regulation of SNAP programs require a 3-month limit on benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents. Once the time limits runs out, able-bodied adults would have to seek job training or risk losing their benefits. Recipients currently can apply to have the SNAP work requirement waived, allowing them to receive benefits beyond the three-month period.
But HB 594, by Rep. Jay Morris, R-Monroe, would have required legislative authorization for any applications to waive the work requirements from able-bodied adults without dependents. The committee voted to defer the bill, 4-2.
—Gordon Brillon
Jeremy Alford and Gordon Brillon will publish a daily update throughout the legislative regular session on Daily Report PM. Alford reports on Louisiana politics at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
