As the curtain draws on another year, 2023 has been pivotal for legislative reforms impacting hiring practices and workplace policies nationwide. Employers navigating the intricate landscape of background checks, drug testing, and equitable employment procedures have witnessed a transformational year marked by the emergence of laws concerning clean slate, fair chance hiring, ban-the-box initiatives, pay equity and transparency, and the ever-evolving landscape of marijuana legalization. For employers, staying informed and adapting to these shifting legal frameworks has become imperative.
Clean Slate Laws
In 2023, the landscape of clean slate legislation saw significant developments across various states and jurisdictions. These laws aim to provide opportunities for reintegration into society by expunging or sealing certain low-level or non-violent offenses from a person’s record after a prescribed period, assuming the individual has maintained a clean record.
Noteworthy 2023 Clean Slate Legislation
Leading the nation in criminal history reform, California extended automatic clean slate relief to felony-level offenses after a remarkably short period of four years. This law significantly broadens opportunities for most defendants with non-violent felony convictions to seek expungement, even those with serious felony offenses who can petition the court.
Despite its intention to provide broad automatic expungement for most non-violent felonies and misdemeanors, Connecticut...
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for relying on claims by United States President Donald Trump regarding the reported killing of senior Islamic ...