LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Snyder has signed an order requiring the state’s licensing agency and its executive departments to stop asking applicants whether they are felons, at least in their initial applications.
Many Communities and some businesses have joined the “Ban the Box” movement, to give prior offenders a chance to get their foot in the door.
Snyder spokesperson Anna Heaton says their plan would be better named “move the box” because the question could come up later in the application process.
They may ask the question further down the line and still plan to do background checks for especially sensitive positions.
She says the surest way to make sure a previous offender does not repeat their criminal activity is to give them a job.
She says the Governor is also encouraging businesses to follow their lead, but voluntarily.She says it would take legislation to require it. Heaton says he would be willing to discuss requiring it for businesses too if the legiislature were willing to talk about it.
The Governor signed a bill in April banning local governements from requiring that businesses that receive local tax breaks, or zoning variances also agree to ban the box.
