Washington employers may soon face some of the nation’s toughest restrictions on criminal background checks. House Bill 1747, currently advancing through the legislature, would impose significant changes on how employers handle criminal background checks—delaying when inquiries can be made and restricting how conviction history factors into hiring decisions. If signed into law, this bill would introduce sweeping compliance requirements and reshape hiring practices, creating far-reaching implications for businesses statewide

Washington’s Fair Chance Hiring Law in a National Context

Since 2018, Washington has embraced fair chance hiring, prohibiting employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal record until they have determined that the applicant meets the basic qualifications for the position. HB 1747 pushes that boundary further, aligning Washington with jurisdictions such as California, New York City, and Philadelphia, where employers must wait until a conditional offer has been extended before assessing an applicant’s criminal record. For Washington employers, this change adds new compliance obligations and demands a more structured hiring process to avoid liability.

Washington’s proposed law isn’t happening in a vacuum. Across the country, lawmakers are strengthening fair chance hiring laws to expand employment opportunities for individuals with past convictions. The state is one of at least eight, including Texas, considering new or expanded fair chance...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxPQmJvNUdmZUtSd3ZfbHlWai16...