AGC Opposes Seattle Job Assistance Ordinance

Seattle Job Assistance Ordinance is the new name given to the Criminal Background Legislation (also down as the Ban the Box ordinance) being proposed by Councilmember Bruce Harrell. The ordinance says among other things that application forms or processes that automatically exclude all individuals with arrest or conviction records will be prohibited.

(Click here for a previous AGC Works article by Ashbaugh Beals Joe Campos who explains the proposed ordinance as originally drafted in detail.)

AGC and other Seattle Chamber of Commerce members oppose the legislation in its current form. As written the Seattle Office of Civil Rights (SOCR) makes the rules prosecutes the claims adjudicates the claim and levies the punishment including attorney fees and costs of the Agency. The enforcement process as set up is onerous over-burdensome and suggests that the employer is at fault. Businesses prefer that the police role of the SOCR be neutralized and that Office of Economic Development (OED) play a greater role.

If this proposed legislation concerns you contact the Public Safety Committee members with your comments: Chair: Bruce A. Harrell; Vice-Chair: Mike OBrien; Member: Nick Licata; Alternate: Sally Bagshaw.

For more information contact AGC Seattle District Manager Jerry Dinndorf 206-284-0061.