By KRWG News
New Mexico – New Mexico has become the second state in the nation to "ban the box" after Gov. Bill Richardson signed into law a measure prohibiting employment applications for government agencies from asking job seekers if they'd been convicted of a crime.
The measure, signed Monday, covers job applications for state, county or local government. It does not apply to private business.
The legislation doesn't prohibit employers from asking the question once they're face-to-face with applicants and doesn't stop them from doing background checks.
It passed the Senate 35-4 and the House 54-14 during this year's regular session.
Minnesota passed similar legislation in 2009, becoming the first state to outlaw the conviction question.
That's according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Employment Law Project.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.