Council adopts ordinance requiring criminal-history disclosure for Port unclassified positions

The Plaquemines Parish Council on July 9 adopted Ordinance No. 26-107, which requires that applications for unclassified Port positions include disclosure of any convictions or pleas. Commissioner Patricia L. McCarty offered the ordinance and Commissioner Carlton M. LaFrance, Sr. seconded the motion.

Section 1 of the ordinance directs that job applications ask: "Have you ever been convicted of or plead guilty or no contest to a criminal offense, misdemeanor or felony?" Applicants must provide the offense, date, and court for each conviction or plea. The ordinance states that failure to provide a full and honest response will disqualify an applicant from consideration and, if employed, may be cause for termination for cause.

The minutes record unanimous YEAS among those present (Edwards, Champagne, Schulz, Guey, McCarty, Newsom, LaFrance and Cognevich); Commissioner Mitch Jurisich is listed as absent. The Secretary was authorized to certify and release the ordinance.

Next steps: the Secretary is to certify and release the ordinance; the minutes do not specify an effective date for the new application requirement.