SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Job applicants who’ve been convicted of a crime won’t have to disclose their criminal record before some job interviews under a new Utah law aiming to help convicts find work after prison.
The legislation only applies to government jobs but supporters say they hope more private employers adopt the practice.
Rep. Sandra Hollins, a social worker who sponsored the new law, said it gives people with a criminal record a chance to explain how they’ve built up their skills and changed their life.
The law doesn’t apply to government jobs in law enforcement, work with kids or vulnerable adults, and it still gives all employers freedom not to hire someone because of their criminal background.
Utah’s law is similar to rules passed in more than 20 other states.