Missouri has become the 22nd state to enact a “ban the box” policy as Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order on April 18, 2016.
Executive Order 16-04 applies to employment with state agencies and refers to the check box on many employment applications that asks whether the applicant has a criminal record.
The governor’s order states the employer may still inquire about an applicant’s criminal history but must wait until later in the hiring process rather than the initial application. According to the order, this legislation lessens the barriers that applicants with a criminal past face when trying to enter the workforce.
State agencies have 90 days from the date the executive order was signed to implement the changes.
