Pennsylvania civil service agency drops conviction question
(NewsWorks file photo)
Applicants for 55,000 civil service positions in Pennsylvania state government will no longer be asked on employment applications whether they have a criminal conviction.
The State Civil Service Commission said Tuesday that the change will take effect beginning July 1.
The commission’s move follows Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement last week that he’s getting rid of the question for non-civil service positions.
Pennsylvania joins about 20 others states in the “ban the box” movement.
The move, however, doesn’t change laws that prevent people with a criminal record from holding certain jobs, such as in law enforcement or involving contact with vulnerable populations.
The commission says those decisions are made by the hiring agencies.
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