Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has vetoed a bill that would have prevented state agencies from conducting criminal background checks on job applicants until they were determined to be qualified for the job.
The Governor considered the bill ambiguous in too many areas. She was concerned about certain legal issues as well as administrative procedures. According to the article in Business Insurance the governor argued the following…That “will certainly create difficulties in administration and application across the state. One agency may deem a person qualified on paper credentials alone while another will not consider a person qualified until after several interviews,” Gov. Rell said in the veto message.
The issue of “qualified” may be interpreted as an offer of employment, which may not be the case. It was also pointed out that previously convicted felons, thous with criminal records in their background checks, will not gain any benefit from waiting before conducting these background searches. Convicted felons are already prohibited from working for state agencies.
As several states are passing similar laws where either the state employer has to either deem the job applicant qualified or actually offer them the job, before conducting background checks, I think Governor Rell is demonstrating a more reasoned approach to background checks for public servants. Rather than complicate matters, the veto will best serve to simply the issue. The law, as it was presented seemed to be a bill that while the intent was there for a more fluid approach to recruiting and hiring, the unforeseen complications and legal issues would only work against the state.
