RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Senate has approved a measure to prohibit state agencies from including on employment applications a question asking whether the applicant has ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. The so-called “ban the box” bill now goes to the House of Delegates, which has rejected similar measures in the past. Under the bill, a job applicant could only be asked about a criminal record after receiving a conditional offer of employment, which could be withdrawn if the criminal record bears a “rational relationship” to the duties of the position. The ban would not apply to applications for employment with law enforcement agencies, fire departments or emergency medical services agencies. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the measure from Sen. Rosalyn Dance, a Petersburg Democrat, on a 21-17 vote.
