Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 214
       
       
        
       By Senator Clemens
       
       
       
       
       
       27-00304-15                                            2015214__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to discrimination in employment
    3         screening; creating s. 760.105, F.S.; prohibiting an
    4         employer from inquiring into or considering an
    5         applicant’s criminal history on an initial employment
    6         application unless required to do so by law; providing
    7         an effective date.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, reducing barriers to employment for people who
   10  have a criminal history and lowering unemployment rates in
   11  communities that have concentrated numbers of people who have a
   12  criminal history are issues of statewide concern, and
   13         WHEREAS, restricting an employer from inquiring into or
   14  considering an applicant’s criminal history on an initial
   15  employment application increases employment opportunities for
   16  those who have a criminal history, thereby reducing the rate of
   17  recidivism and improving economic stability, NOW, THEREFORE,
   18  
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Section 760.105, Florida Statutes, is created to
   22  read:
   23         760.105 Unlawful employment screening.—Unless otherwise
   24  required by law, an employer may not inquire into or consider an
   25  applicant’s criminal history on an initial employment
   26  application. An employer may inquire into or consider an
   27  applicant’s criminal history only after the applicant’s
   28  qualifications have been screened and the employer has
   29  determined that the applicant meets the minimum employment
   30  requirements specified for a given position.
   31         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.