Despite statewide Ban the Box already on the books since 2016, one Missouri state representative is tirelessly working to improve the mildly cumbersome and oppressive law. On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Missouri state representative Cheri Reisch introduced legislation amending Missouri’s Ban the Box law by eliminating an outright ban on businesses selling lottery tickets or liquor from employing people with conviction histories. Additionally, her proposal removes reporting requirements for liquor-selling employers with employees who have conviction histories.
“My analogy is, even at a Casey’s General Store you can’t make doughnuts and pizza in the back because they sell lottery tickets in the front,” Reisch, R-Hallsville, said. “You can’t bag groceries and stock shelves in a grocery store because they sell lottery tickets.”
State representative Reisch’s proposal passed the Missouri House Special Committee on Criminal Justice and heads to the Rules Committee before finally moving to the floor for debate.
