A new New York City law will change the rules of job interviews and employment decisions.

Late last month, New York City’s Fair Chance Act took effect. A response to the epidemic of arrest and incarceration that particularly affected communities of color, the law prevents an employer from checking into an applicant’s arrest history until they are ready to make a job offer. It also requires steps to inform the job seeker about any criminal-record information that affects the ultimate hiring decision.

The law changes the rules of the road for job seekers and people who hire. Alyssa Aguilera, political director at Vocal-NY, and Nayantara Mehta, senior staff attorney at the National Employment Law Project, discuss what the new law means:

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