Philadelphia City Council Amends and Expands Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law (commonly referred to as the “Fair Chance Law” or “Ban-the-Box”).
What is this about?
On September 25, 2025, the Philadelphia City Council passed a bill amending and expanding the existing Philadelphia Fair Chance Law. This legislation introduces several changes to enhance protections for job applicants and employees with criminal records. It becomes effective on January 6, 2026, and applies to employers in Philadelphia.
Key Changes:
Shortened Lookback Period for Misdemeanors
Under the existing Fair Chance Law, employers are prohibited from considering conviction information that is older than seven years from the date of the inquiry. The new amendments reduce the lookback period for misdemeanors to four years. The lookback period for felony convictions remains subject to the
seven-year window.
Summary Offenses Excluded From Employment Decisions:
The amendments reconcile the limitations under the Fair Chance Law with those imposed by the Pennsylvania Criminal Records Information Act (CHRIA) by confirming that employers may not consider summary offenses—offenses that do not rise to the level of a felony or misdemeanor—in making
employment decisions.
Added Protections for Expunged or Sealed Records:
Employers may not consider expunged or sealed criminal records. Furthermore, if such records appear in a background check or in PennDOT driver history reports, employers must allow applicants to provide proof of sealing or expungement before making a final decision.
Notice of Background Checks:
Employers who choose to provide notice of their intention to perform a
background check during the hiring process, such as in a job advertisement or in a job offer, must now also state that any consideration of the background check will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant’s or employee’s specific record and the requirements and duties of the particular
job.
Notice and Rebuttal Opportunities
Employers will have additional pre-adverse action requirements, which include
providing applicants or employees with:
- A summary of the applicant’s or employee’s rights under the Fair Chance Law.
- A statement that the employer will consider evidence of any error in the criminal history records, evidence of rehabilitation, or other mitigation if provided by the applicant or employee. A list of the types of evidence that may be offered includes:
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- the completion of a mental health or substance use
disorder treatment program - the completion of a job training program
- the completion of a GED or post-secondary education
program - service to the community
- work history in a related field since the time of conviction
or incarceration - an active occupational licensure, commercial driver
- the completion of a mental health or substance use
licensure, or other licensure necessary to perform the specific duties of the job.
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- Instruction as to how the applicant or employee can exercise their right to provide evidence or explanation directly to the employer.
Anti-Retaliation Protections
The amendments provide a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if an employer takes adverse action within 90 days of an applicant or employee asserting their rights under the Fair Chance Law. Employers must demonstrate that any adverse action was taken in good faith and unrelated to the protected activity.
Why compliance matters:
Employers with operations in Philadelphia—including those hiring remote or hybrid workers—who may fall under the city’s jurisdiction, should use the time before January 6, 2026, to review their policies and prepare for implementation of the Fair Chance Law’s amended requirements. Most notably, employers should update their pre-adverse action notices to comply with the expanded notice and rebuttal rights to ensure that they are based on objective criteria that are unrelated to the applicant’s or employee’s exercise of their rights under the
Fair Chance Law.
What SI is doing:
SI provides employment-related background check reports that comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. SI stays current with changes in the laws that affect how an employer can use an individual’s personal information in an employment decision. SI’s policies and procedures will include compliance with the new Fair Chance Law amendments.
Disclaimer: This communication is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The summary provided in this alert does not, and cannot, cover in detail what employers need to know about the amendments to the Philadelphia Fair Chance Law or how to incorporate its requirements into their hiring process. No recipient should act or refrain from acting based on any information provided here without advice from a qualified attorney licensed in the applicable jurisdiction.