The ordinance will make it unlawful for an employer “to inquire about an applicant’s criminal history until after it has been determined that the individual is otherwise qualified for the position, and only after the applicant has been interviewed for the position.”

The new ordinance makes an exception for positions where employers are required to exclude applicants with certain criminal convictions from employment due to local, state or federal law or regulation.

Kansas City previously adopted a “Ban the Box” policy for most city employees in 2013. Missouri established the ban for state hiring in 2016.

The text of the ordinance can be found here.

Source: Spencer Fane LLP, 2/5/2018