Fair Chance Hiring Goes into Effect January 1, 2022

The Council acted in June, 2021, to ensure that DeSoto businesses consider the qualifications of job applicants before asking about any past criminal record. January 1, 2022, that ordinance becomes effective for DeSoto businesses, defined as a business located in DeSoto with fifteen or more (15+) employees that is not a non-profit 501(c) organization, a state agency, or a governmental body defined by Section 552.003 of the Government Code. The Ordinance also does not apply to any position for which an individual criminal history must be known to comply with restrictions under federal, state, or local law or to comply with a legally mandated insurance or bond requirement. The City has contacted DeSoto businesses directly with information regarding how to comply with the Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance and is providing this information as a resource. Businesses will be given the opportunity to advertise their compliance with the ordinance and direct interested individuals to that resource with a window sticker provided by the City. 

The City is also working with the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce to identify and inform potentially impacted businesses. That effort will continue into the new year. 

Follow this link to view the full Ordinance.