Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive, recently signed into law a bill that significantly expands prohibitions on employers inquiring about an applicant’s criminal record (commonly known as “Ban-the-Box” laws). Montgomery County’s new Ban-the-Box law expands these prohibitions to all employers and expands the prohibition of inquiries into more types of criminal records. This Ban-the-Box law, which goes into effect on February 19, 2021, goes much farther than the statewide Maryland law, and employers should take note to avoid potential penalties.
Bill 34-20 prohibits an inquiry into a criminal record at any time before the extension of a conditional offer to an applicant. Previously, the law prohibited inquiry before the conclusion of the first interview. Additionally, an employer may not inquire into or consider, at any time, the following criminal matters:
Bill 34-20 does not alter provisions of Montgomery County’s existing Ban-the-Box law that exempt employers that provide programs, services, or direct care to minors or vulnerable adults, or for positions that require a federal government security clearance from compliance with the law.
For inquiries and questions, call your employment attorneys at Shulman Rogers.
The contents of this Alert are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about this Alert, please contact the Shulman Rogers attorney with whom you regularly work or a member of the Shulman Rogers Employment and Labor Law Group.
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