Philadelphia’s Expanded and Amended ‘Ban-the-Box’ Law Takes Effect
Philadelphia employers should review their criminal background investigation practices and procedures in light of recent amendments to Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance (FCRSS) that took effect on January 6, 2026, after being signed into law on October 8, 2025. Multistate employers also need to keep in mind compliance with varying fair chance or ban-the-box laws in other jurisdictions as well, as many states have enacted some limitations on use of criminal histories in hiring decisions, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Who Is Covered? The amended FCRSS applies to most private employers. Notably, the ordinance’s protections are not limited to employees and job applicants. Rather, it covers all in...