LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Feb. 6 passed a motion to introduce the Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers. Adoption of the ordinance will provide additional rights, protections and enforcement mechanisms for persons with criminal history seeking employment in the unincorporated Los Angeles County. The ordinance will complement the states’ “Ban-the Box” law, called the Fair Chance Act, enacted in 2018, which generally prohibits employers with five or more employees from asking about the conviction history of an applicant before making a job offer, and requires employers to perform an individualized assessment regarding an applicant’s conviction history before rescinding a job offer.
Through this motion and adoption of the ordinance, envisioned and championed by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, the county seeks to overcome the stigma and unfair biases associated with individuals with criminal records when employers are making employment decisions, and to ensure that individuals with criminal history are provided a fair and equitable opportunity for employment.
“Our local economy and communities’ benefit from more residents having equitable access to opportunity — this must include our fellow residents who have served their time and are ready to work. I am proud that the Board’s vote brings Los Angeles County closer to adopting a fair chance ordinance. Once officially in effect, this ordinance will help ensure the County is leading by example as the largest employer in the region and will strengthen protections and create tools for stronger enforcement of fair chance hiring practices in our unincorporated communities,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.
The ordinance will apply to any private employer that employs five or more employees performing at least two hours of work each week within the unincorporated areas of the county. If an employer is deemed in violation of the ordinance, penalties may be collected by the county.
“When one in three Americans has a criminal record and approximately 60,000 Californians are likely to return home from prison or jail, our local economy cannot afford to leave this subset of our population unemployed,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “Our fellow community members deserve a fair chance to thrive in an accessible, equitable, and inclusive County.”
The motion also includes a directive that will hold the County of Los Angeles, as the largest employer in the county, to the same standards as what is being asked of private businesses under the ordinance. “The County of Los Angeles is a proud Fair Chance employer and has been so for several years. The Department of Human Resources has created and implemented policies designed to address fair and equitable employment opportunities for individuals impacted by the justice system. In the County, a conviction is not a barrier to employment. In fact, we have talented and productive employees who have previously been incarcerated. This is a viable source of talent. We look forward to further refining our policies to align with this ordinance,” said Lisa M. Garrett, Director of Personnel.
The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ or DCBA Office of Labor Equity will be the leading enforcement agency for the ordinance and will work directly with the Department of Economic Opportunity to educate businesses and individuals in the unincorporated areas of LA County.
Through the comprehensive Fair Chance Hiring Campaign, the Department of Economic Opportunity will continue to educate and work with employers to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under the county’s Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers as well as continue to partner with community organizations and advocates to inform reentry individuals about their protections under the law. The Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers will be effective 30 days after adoption by the Board of Supervisors and is set to be operative by September 2024
Details: Fair Chance Hiring Campaign,t: opportunity.lacounty.gov