The Minnesota Senate passed SF 523, which if passed by both chambers would be effective January 1, 2014 and would mean that Minnesota has a “ban the box” initiative in effect. Which further means that a private employer couldn’t ask about an applicant’s criminal history on the job application (i.e., have you been arrested or convicted of a crime?). Below is the pertinent section of the Senate bill. The bill is now pending in the House. For a history of the legislation in the Minnesota State Legislature as well as to see who the bill’s authors are, click here.
364.021 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT; CONSIDERATION OF CRIMINAL RECORDS.
(a) A public or private employer may not inquire into or consider the criminal record or criminal history of an applicant for public employment until the applicant has been selected for an interview by the employer or, if there is not an interview, before a conditional offer of employment is made to the applicant.