‘An Act To Limit Questions Regarding Criminal History on State Employment Applications’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §792 is enacted to read:
§ 792. Application forms for employment
An application form for employment for a position in State Government may not include any questions regarding an applicant's criminal history except when, due to the nature and requirements of the position, a person who has a criminal history record may be disqualified from eligibility for the position. For purposes of this section, "position in State Government" means a position in the legislative, executive or judicial branch of State Government or a position with a quasi-independent state entity or public instrumentality of the State. "Position in State Government" does not include a position in a school administrative unit, municipality, county or other political subdivision of the State.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Information Services 0155
Initiative: Provides a one-time General Fund appropriation of $108,568 for required computer modifications.
| GENERAL FUND | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
|
All Other
|
$108,568 | $0 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $108,568 | $0 |
summary
The amendment replaces the bill. Like the bill, the amendment prohibits the State from including questions about criminal history on its employment application forms. The amendment provides an exception to that prohibition when, due to the nature and requirements of the position, a person who has a criminal history record may be disqualified from eligibility, such as for a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, child protective and adult protective services caseworker or child development services worker. The amendment applies to state employment positions in the legislative, executive or judicial branches of State Government and positions with quasi-independent state entities or public instrumentalities of the State; it does not apply to positions in school administrative units, municipalities, counties or other political subdivisions of the State.
This amendment also provides funding to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services for computer modifications made necessary by the amendment.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)