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New Connecticut Employment Law Goes Into Effect Jan. 1, 2017

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, employers will be prohibited “from asking prospective employees about their prior arrests, criminal charges, or convictions on an initial employment application unless the (1) employer must do so under a state or federal law or (2) prospective employee is applying for a position for which the employer must obtain a security or fidelity bond, or an equivalent bond.” PA 16-83; H.B. 5237, An Act Concerning Fair Chance Employment.

“The act allows a prospective employee to file a complaint with the labor commissioner alleging a violation of its employment application prohibition. It also allows a prospective employee or employee to file a complaint with the commissioner alleging an employer’s violation of certain other prohibitions on employment-related criminal record checks. In both cases, violators are subject to a $300 per violation civil penalty imposed by the Labor Department (CGS § 31-69a).”

For more information, please see: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/SUM/2016SUM00083-R03HB-05237-SUM.htm