Signed by Governor Mark Dayton

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits a private employer from considering the criminal history of an applicant, effective January 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a private employer from inquiring or considering the criminal history of an applicant until the applicant has been selected for an interview or has been made a conditional offer (Sec. 3). 

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Human Rights to enforce penalties for violations of this bill before January 1, 2015 as follows (Sec. 4):
• A written warning and a penalty up to $500 for a first violation not remedied after 30 days; and
• A penalty up to $500 a month for a subsequent violation.  

• Authorizes the Commissioner to enforce penalties for violations of this bill after December 31, 2014 as follows (Sec. 4):
• Up to $100 per violation, not to exceed $100 per month, for an employer that employs less than 10 individuals;
• Up to $500 per violation, not to exceed $500 per month, for an employer that employs 11 to 20 individuals; and 
• Up to $500 per violation, not to exceed $2,000 per month, for an employer that employs more than 20 individuals.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill do not apply to particular types of employment which by law require the employer to conduct a criminal background investigation or consider an applicant’s criminal history (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text