January 20, 2016

Author of “Ban the Box” applauds its inclusion in legislation

MADISON – Today, the State Senate passed Assembly Bill 373, which drastically changes the state’s civil service law. While she opposed the bill, Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), who authored Wisconsin’s Ban the Box provision, applauded its inclusion in the bill, which Governor Walker will sign into law. The ban the box provision will preclude the state from inquiring as to a person’s criminal record on their job application, deferring that instead to later in the job application process. After passage of the bill, Taylor released the following statement:

“Today, was a gloomy day in state government. The Legislature cemented what I believe to be terrible changes in the state civil service system, with a ray of hope to those with a prior record.

“I believe if you work hard and play by the rules, you deserve another chance to make up for your past transgressions. I’d rather have someone with a criminal record in the government’s workforce than in the government’s pocket.

“As the author of the state’s ban the box legislation for multiple sessions, I am glad that the issue is beginning to gain bipartisan support. With a bipartisan bill making its way through Congress and now with the state banning the box for state workers, I only hope the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, other local governments and all private employers join the state of Wisconsin in banning the box.”