Senate passes Ban the Box bill

This afternoon, the Virginia Senate approved Senator Rosalyn Dance’s (D-Petersburg) SB 1017, the Ban the Box bill, which would prevent state agencies from incorporating a check box on application forms regarding past criminal convictions.

This comes one day after the Senate passed Senator Dance’s SJ 238, a constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to automatically restore voting rights for non-violent felons.

Senator Dance issued the following statement: “At the end of the day, these are measures designed to help our fellow Virginians. These men and women made mistakes, but they have paid back their debt to society. These bills are about dignity, about allowing Virginians who want to live constructive, law-abiding lives to have the opportunity to do so. The ability to apply for jobs without prejudice and the ability to vote are two instrumental parts of that process.”

SJ 238 passed the Senate on a 29-9 vote. SB 1017 passed 21-17.