'Ban the box' bill delayed in Council over amendments

An ordinance expected to be adopted by City Council that would ban many employers from asking about applicants' criminal history until after an initial interview was delayed Thursday when the sponsor offered amendments.

The amendments, which Council approved, define the criminal-justice agencies such as courts, police departments, and prisons, that would be exempt from the law.

Most of those agencies are barred from hiring ex-offenders by state or federal laws, but the amendments would give them specific exemptions under the proposed city ordinance.

The Nutter administration supports the legislation, known as the "ban the box" bill for the check box on many job applications asking about criminal history.

The measure's sponsor, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, has said she expects the ordinance to have enough votes to be approved. Barring any additional amendments, the proposal would be up for final passage at next week's meeting.

It would prohibit employers from asking candidates about arrests that did not end in convictions and would ban any inquiries into criminal history before a first interview.

The belief, Miller has said, is that many former offenders are weeded out by the application process, but that they could get hired if given an interview and a chance to make an impression.

About one-fifth of city residents have criminal records, according to an estimate cited in the measure, and finding work greatly reduces the chance that former offenders will commit another crime.

The business community has offered some mild opposition, but no one testified against the ordinance at a hearing last week. The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to Miller expressing concern that businesses could face discrimination lawsuits if they do not hire ex-offenders.