Bill Summary: A04868 - New York State Fair Chance Act

• Prohibits employers from denying employment or taking adverse action based on criminal convictions, unless the conviction directly relates to the job and poses an unreasonable risk to safety or property.

• Establishes that employers cannot inquire about arrests or convictions until after extending a conditional offer of employment, and must provide written analysis and give applicants at least seven business days to respond.

• Creates a presumption of rehabilitation for felony convictions after ten years without additional convictions and for misdemeanor convictions after five years without additional convictions.

• Extends protections to cover persons currently charged with crimes and crimes committed during employment, and prohibits discrimination based on arrests that were dismissed or resulted in acquittals.

• Lowers the threshold for "private employer" coverage from ten employees to four employees and clarifies that police officers and peace officers are excluded from these protections.