Source: National Employment Law Project

Vermont Executive Order 03-15 (2015) – Applies to state employment

Vermont’s Executive Order 03-15 provides for specific restrictions on state employment applications. The law, which was signed into place by Governor Peter Shumlin on April 21, 2015, requires the removal of all criminal record questions from applications for state positions. The state may no longer check criminal background information until after the individual has been otherwise qualified to be hired for the position. At that point, the criminal history of the individual can only be used for hiring decisions in areas of law enforcement, correctional facility employment or other “sensitive positions.”

Commentary: Also notable, Governor Shumlin is supportive of another bill, S. 115 in Vermont. This law, if it receives full approval, would allow the state’s citizens to expunge convictions from records. The bill has been approved by both the House and Senate at this time.