PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island House of Representatives, in a rare Friday session, will consider legislation to prohibit companies from initially asking prospective workers about their criminal records, as well as another bill allowing childcare business owners to unionize.
The two bills cleared the House Labor Committee after a brief meeting earlier in the afternoon.
Introduced by state Rep. Scott Slater and Sen. Harold Metts, both Providence Democrats, the so-called "Ban the Box" bill would prohibit employers from asking a job applicant if he or she has a criminal record until the first interview.
It would effectively prohibit application forms where applicants have to check a box indicating whether they have a criminal record, a provision that community groups complain unfairly disadvantages minorities.
The childcare worker bill, also introduced by Slater, would allow home childcare providers who receive state subsidies for children in their care to negotiate with the state on issues such as reimbursement rates, benefits, training and professional development, and "other economic matters."
But they would not be eligible for state employee pensions or other benefits, nor would they have the right to strike.
Childcare businesses owners, many of whom operate their businesses from their homes, have said they want to unionize to improve the quality of care and education they provide.
There are about 660 licensed home-based childcare providers in Rhode Island.
Massachusetts and Connecticut already allow such non-government employees to unionize. The legislation is backed by SEIU, the service worker's labor union.