Known as the The Opportunity to Compete Act
- Signed 8-11-2014 effective 3-1-2015
- Removes obstacles to employment for people with criminal records.
- Applies to employers employing 15 or more people for 20 calendar weeks.
Summary:
- No inquiries can be made on an employment application regarding an applicant’s criminal record.
- Any inquiry regarding an applicant’s criminal history cannot be made until an interview is conducted.
- An employer can not advertise that they will not consider any applicant who has been arrested or convicted of one or more crimes or offenses.
- Cannot ask about:
- Expunged records
- Arrests that did not result in a conviction
- Disorderly conduct which the date of offense or release occurred 5 or more years ago.
- Conviction of 1st -4th degree crimes that are 10 or more years old.
- There are 12 crimes which do not carry the same time frame for consideration.
- Does not apply to law enforcement, corrections, the judiciary, homeland security or emergency management.
- Does not apply where a criminal history record background check is required by law, rule or regulation.
- Violation is $1,000 1st offense, $5,000 2nd offense and $10,000 3rd
For more information on this subject visit: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/A2000/1999_R1.PDF
Written by: Karen Jacobsen