Effective July 1, 2015, a new law in Georgia – House Bill 328 (HB 328) – will enact similar protections offered to consumers under Section 613 of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Georgia HB 328 will amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the “Fair Business Practices Act of 1975,” by adding a new Code section. The Order will prohibit Georgia state agencies from using a prior criminal history as an automatic disqualification for job applicants and allow them the opportunity to discuss their criminal records. The term “Ban the Box” refers to the box on job applications that applicants are asked to check if they have criminal convictions.

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