CONSUMER REPORTING AND EMPLOYER COMPLIANCE INFORMATION

Washington
In employer compliance news: Washington has amended its Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) to require employers to include wage and benefit information in their job postings, effective January 1, 2023. Washington is the third jurisdiction to do so, in an effort to address what is seen as a significant pay gap. This new regulation replaces a prior requirement that employers provide employee pay information to applicants “upon request” after receiving an employment offer, and applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
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California
Compliance counts! An important reminder that FCRA compliance includes obtaining authorization from a candidate prior to a background check, and that these appropriate disclosures are presented as standalone documents. In a case detailed here, a plaintiff filed suit in the Superior Court of San Diego County alleging the defendant willfully violated the FCRA by providing job applicants with a disclosure form that included extraneous language unrelated to the topic of consumer reports (a background check in this case). The California Court of Appeals reversed a previous decision, noting that the defendant’s prolonged use of the disclosure form could suggest recklessness because the defendant lacked ongoing monitoring and legal guidance to guarantee FCRA compliance of documents.
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An Important Compliance Reminder
Although in this case, a Federal Appeals Court sided with the employer, it’s a good opportunity to remember that without documented background screening processes, claims of FCRA violations can become costly class action lawsuits. According to a recent decision from a federal appeals court, the applicant didn’t claim criminal information found on the background report was wrong. Instead, the claim stated that time should have been allowed to explain the conviction before the offer was withdrawn. the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employer. However, as noted, while the applicant did not receive a copy of the report prior to rescindment of an employment offer, the applicant did not claim the report was inaccurate.
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Tips for Background Check Compliance
If you aren’t performing candidate background checks, or worse yet, doing them incorrectly, you could become the defendant in a lawsuit. Here are 6 great tips employers should keep in mind:
1) Checking initially for candidate application errors that can cause potential issues
2) Using an accredited background screening company—like A-Check Global
3) Simplifying your screening process and candidate communication
4) Focusing on FCRA compliance throughout the workflow
5) Reviewing requirements for Ban the Box and other state-by-state legislation
6) And, understanding limitations for credit history and/or salary inquiries
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I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Document Review Extension
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a thirteenth extension, this time for a six-month period—until October 31, 2022—of I-9 compliance flexibility rules relating to Form I-9. This flexibility allows ongoing exemptions for “in-person” work authorization document review for companies still offering remote work schedules. That said, there is also discussion that the government is still considering a permanent virtual option for document review. We will continue to watch this issue and report further information.
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REMINDER: Expired List B Document Requirements
Employers who have accepted expired List B documents should now update their I-9 forms in accordance with DHS instructions that took effect May 1, 2022. The DHS announced that starting May 1, 2022, employers must only accept unexpired List B documents when completing Form I-9. What’s more, employers should audit all Form I-9s completed between May 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022 to determine if any of them need to be updated with a current (unexpired) identity document.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

Nationwide Legislation
As we all know, there are a growing number of states with varying degrees of legalized marijuana. For some, medical marijuana is legal, but not recreational. For others, marijuana is fully legalized. And in some states, including New Jersey and New York, even testing for marijuana is regulated by legislation. For employers operating in multiple states, marijuana testing obligations will be different from location to location. One option with growing popularity among employers is to have a comprehensive drug testing policy stating your company does not condone marijuana use, and the company will comply with applicable laws in states/jurisdictions where it does business. That of course means substance abuse policy will differ depending on where your employees work. It’s certainly one approach to drug testing among many, but always remember A-Check is here to help answer any questions you may have.
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New Hampshire
A last attempt to pass marijuana legalization legislation this year in New Hampshire has failed, and it looks like no further marijuana proposals are expected this year for NH. Senate Bill 299 would have allowed adults to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis, and would have also removed the current $100 penalty for possessing less than three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana.
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To date, thirty-seven states and Washington, D.C. have laws legalizing medical marijuana, with 19 states and D.C. legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Please keep in mind that A-Check Global is always here to help as you determine the course of your own employment drug testing.

BAN THE BOX

Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida is currently developing a plan to get employers and city contractors to stop asking job applicants about their criminal history prior to a conditional offer. This Ban the Box effort would also help to promote businesses hiring people with criminal records. Tampa sees this effort—to be potentially approved at a later meeting—as a move toward increased overall employment, and the reduction of repeat criminal offenders.
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DATA PRIVACY

Connecticut
Connecticut is poised to become the fifth state to enact comprehensive privacy legislation, with most of the new law’s provisions taking effect July 1, 2023. Connecticut legislation is modeled after the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), using many of the same definitions and provisions to align with the laws in these jurisdictions. This includes: the right to access personal data, the right to correct personal data, the right to delete personal data provided by or obtained about the consumer, the right to port the consumer’s data to another entity and, the right to opt out of the sale of personal data, targeted advertising, and profiling.
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Worldwide Data Privacy
Data privacy laws in place—and others coming soon—will likely impact nearly every business in some way. Especially in a globalized economy where more and more companies have a worldwide footprint of business activity. Now, more than every before, it’s important for companies to grow data privacy teams, and have informed approaches to doing business while also complying with global privacy requirements. Financial penalties for non-compliance can be very steep and vary significantly depending on legislation. Here’s a good look at current regulations, as well as penalties for non-compliance.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

GENERAL COMPLIANCE INFORMATION

Highlights in Background Screening Legislation
Let’s all work together to help minimize the risk of non-compliance within your employment background screening program. Time to review your screening practices for 2022, as last year, many states enacted ban-the-box and other laws impacting background screening. Here are the highlights:

Illinois amended the Illinois Human Rights Act, making it more difficult to reject applicants or terminate employees based on conviction history. Adverse employment action, based on criminal conviction history, may only take place if it directly relates to a job or presents unreasonable risk to workplace safety.

Louisiana passed a “Fair Chance” law prohibiting employers with 20+ employees within the state from considering an arrest or charge not resulting in a conviction if the record was presented during an employment background check.

New York City amended its Fair Chance Act. Guidance within this new legislation states that employers may not consider charges without convictions, must follow a specific process when considering a pending record, and may only reject an applicant if the applicant intentionally failed to disclose or misrepresented criminal history.

Philadelphia expanded its Ban the Box legislation to now cover criminal history inquiries for independent contractors, gig workers, and current employees.
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Salary Transparency Law for Applicants and Employees
On December 15, 2021, the New York City Council passed legislation—as part of a growing, multi-state/city effort to overcome pay disparity—amending the NYC Human Rights Law to now require that employers disclose salary ranges in job postings. This law, in effect beginning May 14, 2022, will cover all NYC employers with four or more employees, and is just the latest in a quickly growing legislation movement to promote pay transparency across job openings, position transfers, and promotion opportunities.

For your reference—although it’s a snapshot of legislation as it exists today—here’s a quick look at states and cities that currently require employers to disclose salary ranges to applicants and employees.
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Anti-Discrimination Legislation
This review of new anti-discrimination laws enacted in 2021 and yet to enact in 2022 illustrate that lawmakers continue to expand on employee protection legislation. Many new laws focus on natural hair and race-based hairstyle discrimination. Be sure you’re familiar with laws impacting your organization.
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BAN THE BOX

Nationwide Federal Contractors
Under the Fair Chance Act, federal contractors—in certain cases—are now prohibited from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal history during the initial employment application process. In general, the FCA covers both civilian agency and defense contractors, and prohibits criminal history inquiries until after the contractor has extended a conditional employment offer.
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I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now April 30, 2022.

UPDATE: The DHS is currently exploring the possibility of making the remote document verification option for Form I-9 permanent. This is welcome news as many trend toward permanent hybrid work solutions, and is encouraging that the government is closely following workplace trends and is willing to take a look at updating the Form I-9 process. We will keep a close eye on this and let you know as more becomes available.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

Nationwide Legislation
With increasing public and legislative support for marijuana acceptance, 2022 could easily be another busy year for legalization. Every year, it’s important for employers to review drug testing policies to take new laws into consideration. Please know that A-Check Global is always here to help as you determine the course of your own employment drug testing, but in the meantime, here’s a quick look back at marijuana law activity—state by state—throughout 2021.
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DATA PRIVACY

Florida
Senate Bill 1864, released in advance of the 2022 Florida legislative session, may become Florida’s first comprehensive privacy bill. Here’s a great link that illustrates the scope and definitions of the Florida Privacy Protection Act (FPPA). The FPPA is likely the first of at several upcoming data privacy bills introduced in the Florida legislature during the 2022 session, and if passed, would create a dedicated Consumer Data Privacy Unit in the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Initiative
A new EEOC initiative will focus on fairness, guidance, and federal regulation compliance regarding artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies used by employers throughout the employment process. The use of AI and algorithmic tools have become more prominent as employers work to streamline hiring workflow, and the EEOC is preparing a mandate to not just provide ongoing guidance against workplace bias, but also ensure that companies using AI tools during employment decisions comply with present and future federal civil rights and antidiscrimination laws.
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Employment Advertising in California
California employers take note: A new Department of Fair Employment and Housing initiative will focus on uncovering violations of the Fair Chance Act by using technology to identify discriminating content within employment advertising. For example, The Fair Chance Act bans general “criminal history” statements in a job advertisement such as “No Felons” or “Must Have Clean Record.” Utilizing technology to conduct mass searches of online job ads for statements violating the Fair Chance Act have already led to the identification of hundreds of violations in a single day of analysis. DFEH will continue to document violations and send notices requiring employers to remove unlawful statements.
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Michigan Date of Birth Redaction
As previously shared, a new Michigan rule—initially scheduled to go into effect by January 1, 2022—would have begun a process of removing date of birth (DOB) from public facing court records.

This of course would have all but eliminated the ability of background screening companies to conduct background checks for Michigan businesses. At best, it would make background screening in Michigan quite cumbersome and time consuming for both Credit Reporting Agencies and their customers. Fortunately, and after months of negotiation, the Michigan Supreme Court amended its personal identifying information (PII) court rule impacting background checks—creating an “authorized user” approach for access to PII in court records.

This solution is intended to balance protection of personal identity with the need of background companies to access information within records to verify identity.  The court rule will now go into effect on April 1, 2022. We will continue to monitor developments on this issue up to April 1, 2022, and keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now April 30, 2022.

UPDATE: The DHS is currently exploring the possibility of making the remote document verification option for Form I-9 permanent. This is welcome news as many trend toward permanent hybrid work solutions, and is encouraging that the government is closely following workplace trends and is willing to take a look at updating the Form I-9 process. We will keep a close eye on this and let you know as more becomes available.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

Philadelphia, PA
Effective January 1, 2022, new legislation in the city of Philadelphia, PA, now prohibits employers from testing candidates for marijuana as a condition of employment. The law states that except as provided in exceptions—law enforcement, commercial driving positions, supervision of children or vulnerable individuals—it is unlawful for an employer, labor organization, or employment agency to require marijuana testing when making employment decisions. Employers should review their current drug and alcohol testing policies for compliance.
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Montana
Recreational marijuana becomes legal in Montana beginning January 1, 2022. Employers, please note that the new bill considers marijuana a lawful product, and employment decisions cannot be made based on cannabis use during nonworking hours. Employers are encouraged to review their policies regarding marijuana and drug testing.
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DATA PRIVACY

Nationwide
Will 2022 be the year for a national privacy law? Perhaps, or perhaps not, but there are many proposals at state and federal levels to negotiate what key issues should be part of such legislation. Of much interest is focus on congressional efforts in tandem with action at the state level, employment discrimination based on use of IA and big data, and concern in the EU with data transfer to the United States. Much more to come!
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Questions? We’re here to help!

CONSUMER REPORTING

PBSA Reports Positive Progress Regarding Michigan Date of Birth Redaction
As previously shared, a new Michigan rule, scheduled to go into effect by January 1, 2022, would remove date of birth (DOB) from public facing records.

The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)—an important, non-profit organization established to represent the interest of companies offering employment background screening services—along with many industry allies, have been actively advocating to retain the DOB within Michigan court records as a critical identifier in accurate, comprehensive background screening.

A recent PBSA Advisory reports that the Michigan Supreme Court has officially adopted a negotiated court rule on Michigan redaction on Monday, December 6th, 2021.

Key elements of the rule are:

1. Definition of what constitutes “consent” for purposes of background screening.
2. Outlining a registration process for Michigan members as well as requirements for proof of liability insurance. This proposed registration would need to be verified every 6 months.
3. Moving the effective date of these new procedures from January 1, 2022, to April 1, 2022.
4. There is a public comment period in the new rule which will close on April 1, 2022.

The adopted rule addresses complaints about the original proposed rule (ADM File No. 2020-26), which would have barred the display of DOB in court records throughout Michigan. We will continue to monitor developments on this issue up to April 1, 2022, and keep you updated as more information becomes available.

CFPB Advisory Opinion on Name Only Matching
On November 4, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion, stating that a consumer reporting agency (CRA) engaging in name-only matching violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (FCRA) reasonable procedures requirement, 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b). This opinion regarding the production of consumer reports stresses the importance of ensuring accuracy in the process. Specifically, that matching on name only very likely leads to report inaccuracies because thousands of consumers share first and last name combinations. These inaccuracies, as stated in the opinion, could also put Hispanic, Asian, and Black consumers at greater potential risk for inaccuracy due to lesser last name diversity among these populations. Here at A-Check Global, we take note of these positions and strive to maintain compliant, accurate policies that mitigate risk during the background screening process.
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I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now December 31, 2021.

UPDATE: On Monday, October 25, 2021, the DHS announced they are seeking public feedback on the possibility of making the remote document verification option for Form I-9 permanent. This is welcome news as many trend toward permanent hybrid work solutions, and is encouraging that the government is closely following workplace trends and is willing to take a look at updating the Form I-9 process. We will keep a close eye on this and let you know as more becomes available.
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CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORTING

California’s Fair Chance Act and Job Advertising
The Fair Chance Act—known commonly as California’s Ban the Box law—restricts employers with 5 or more employees from requesting criminal conviction history from job applicants (in advertising, applications, or during a job interview) prior to a conditional employment offer.

Recently, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has promoted enforcement of the Fair Chance Act by introducing tech efforts to correct violations in online job postings. Put simply, mass searches through online job listings identify prohibited statements such as those prohibiting employment to anyone with a criminal conviction history. In just one day, they found 500+ job advertisement violations!
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University of Michigan
The University of Michigan removed questions asking applicants about criminal history from the application process. Inquiries are now part of the pre-employment background screening conducted after a contingent job offer. While answering “yes” to criminal history questions on a job application did not automatically disqualify previous applicants, the question in and of itself likely deterred qualified applicants from applying.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

New York
The New York State Department of Labor recently issued guidance to address questions regarding recreational cannabis use by employees in and outside of the workplace. This guidance is intended to provide details regarding common scenarios and questions regarding adult-use cannabis and the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). In short, New York labor law states that cannabis used in accordance with New York state law is legal—and as such, employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on the employee’s use of cannabis outside of the workplace, outside of work hours, and without use of the employer’s equipment or property. That said, there are employer actions permitted, such as when an employee, while working, manifests specific symptoms that impair performance or interfere with workplace safety. Time for employers to review policies and practices to ensure compliance.
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DATA PRIVACY

Nationwide
As more U.S. states—and even the federal government—consider privacy law, notable trends may continue to influence legislation: concern for targeted advertising, further definition for sensitive information, even how GDPR can continue as a key model for lawmaking. Recently, U.S. Representatives have submitted the “Control Our Data Act” privacy bill, which looks to have provisions very much like GDPR—required notice, consumer right to delete information, retention limits, information security measures, and more.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

Consumer Reporting

District Court’s FCRA Decision:
Employer Guidance for “Clear and Conspicuous” Disclosure
As you know, before an employer pulls a consumer report for employment background screening purposes, the FCRA requires that the employer provides the applicant with a “clear and conspicuous” disclosure that the employer may obtain this report.

Furthermore, the disclosure document must consist solely of the disclosure. A recent Ninth Circuit Court ruling detailed that even with good will and intention, this disclosure must not include extraneous information—even if the employer believes that information is related to the disclosure.

The court did hold that disclosure may also include some concise explanation of what a consumer report is, how it will be obtained, and the type of employment purposes for which it may be used. However, additional information regarding consumer rights under federal and state law—additional information added in this instance by the employer to the disclosure—was extraneous. This case illustrates just how important strict compliance with the FCRA’s standalone requirement really is.
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California and Michigan Date of Birth Redaction
As we’ve mentioned, efforts in Michigan and a number of California counties to redact date of birth from court cases reported via public indexes make timely employment background screening extremely challenging.

For California: 
A California Court of Appeal decision has unfortunately resulted in CA Courts restricting or limiting in-person research requests, and limiting PII provided for potential record matches. These efforts are being implemented with little notice, and as you can imagine, are having a profound impact in the ability for consumer reporting agencies to efficiently report criminal history.

For Michigan: 
Court rules in Michigan that limit PII provided to researchers are in effect. However, implementation has been delayed until January 2022.

A-Check Global, along with other CRAs, are very involved in working toward any and all potential opportunities for resolution. That said, answers may not be available in the near future. The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) Government Relations Date-of-Birth Redaction Task Force is also focused on resolution efforts, and they invite employers to learn about how to support the path toward solutions.
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We’re focused on helping you remain compliant, and always welcome your questions.

I-9 Compliance

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. The general rule is that an employer must undertake a physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee for section 2 purposes.

UPDATE: Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now December 31, 2021.

The government has suspended the in-person and physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee when completing the Form I-9. During this time, an employer can view the document(s) presented by the employee via Zoom or Skype, for example.
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Substance Abuse Testing

Rhode Island
Could Rhode Island be next? Lawmakers say they are very close to reaching a deal on a marijuana legalization bill that could be taken up during a special session this fall. A-Check will keep an eye out and let you know.
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Connecticut
The Connecticut Governor signed Senate Bill 1201—effective in 2022—making CT the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older, but will allow employers to continue implementing drug-free employment policies. This new law will require expungement of certain existing marijuana convictions, but also creates employment protections for recreational marijuana users. That said, employers are permitted to continue prohibiting employees from engaging in the recreational use of marijuana, subject to certain statutory requirements.
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AS A REMINDER: At A-Check, we’re happy to help implement a drug screening program that meets your evolving needs—or make adjustments to the program you’re already running with us. Just give us a call at 877-345-2021 and ask to speak with someone on your Client Relations team. 

Criminal History Reporting

Maine
Governor Mills signed into law LD 1167, “An Act Relating to Fair Chance in Employment.” With this new Legislation, Maine joins a growing number of states in adopting a “ban-the-box” law that restricts employers’ ability to ask job applicants about their criminal history. While there are exceptions, new law prohibits employers from requesting criminal history information on applications or stating that a person with a criminal history may not apply or will not be considered for a position. Employers are also prohibited from stating—prior to determining a person’s qualifications—that candidates with criminal history will not be considered. This new law goes into effect on October 18, 2021, and employers who do not comply with the new law are subject to a penalty of $100-$500 per violation.
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Data Privacy

Ohio
California, Colorado, and Virginia have passed comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. Additional legislation was recently introduced that, if passed, would create the Ohio Personal Privacy Act. By introducing the Act, Ohio follows the growing trend toward stronger state privacy laws related to consumer rights. The Act primarily applies to businesses in Ohio or businesses that collect data about consumers in Ohio, and among other guidelines, dictates that businesses must provide a “reasonably accessible, clear, and conspicuously posted privacy policy” to inform consumers about the data collected.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

I-9 COMPLIANCE

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
The in-person requirement for the Form I-9 is temporarily suspended if your company is closed or taking other precautions due to COVID-19. The general rule is that an employer must undertake a physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee for section 2 purposes.

UPDATE: Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now August 31, 2021.

The government has suspended the in-person and physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee when completing the Form I-9. During this time, an employer can view the document(s) presented by the employee via Zoom or Skype, for example.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey recently signed Alabama’s medical marijuana law, making Alabama the 37th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. That said, employers are still permitted to establish drug testing and drug-free workplace policies. This new law identifies qualifying medical conditions, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder (ASD); cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain; Crohn’s disease; depression; epilepsy or a condition causing seizures; and HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss. With recently granted access to medical marijuana, this law will not impose new obligations on employers.
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Montana
Montana has legalized marijuana for recreational use, and employers will be prohibited from taking adverse action against employees for lawful use of marijuana outside of work. New law amends the Montana definition of “lawful products” to now include marijuana. That said, employers can continue drug-free workplace policies.
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Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia recently passed an ordinance prohibiting employers from requiring candidates to submit to pre-employment marijuana testing as a condition of employment, effective January 1, 2022. However, this ordinance does not prohibit pre-employment testing of certain types of employees, including police and other law enforcement positions, any position requiring a commercial driver’s license, and any position that requires the supervision or care of children, medical patients, disabled people, and other vulnerable persons.
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SALARY DISCLOSURE

Connecticut
On June 7, Connecticut’s Governor signed House Bill Number 6380, requiring employers to disclose to applicants and employees the salary ranges for positions. This law also expands prohibition of gender-based pay discrimination. Under this new law, employers are prohibited from failing or refusing to provide the wage range for a position upon an applicant’s request, or for an employee’s position upon the employee’s request. Employers are recommended to consider implementing policies and practices to comply with the new law by its October 1, 2021 effective date.
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DATA PRIVACY

Colorado
Colorado has become the third state in the country to pass a comprehensive data privacy law, joining California and Virginia. The Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) will be effective on July 1, 2023. Similar in nature to California and Virginia privacy laws, the CPA provides extended privacy rights to Colorado consumers: (1) the right to opt out of certain processing of personal data; (2) the right to access personal data; (3) the right to correct inaccurate personal data; (4) the right to delete personal data; and (5) the right to data portability. And, it imposes greater duties on the controllers and processors of those organizations collecting personal data.
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania introduced HB-1126, the Consumer Data Privacy Act (CDPA), creating duty for businesses to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices surrounding the protection of consumer information. And, under the CDPA’s private right of action, consumers may obtain statutory damages of not less than $100 but not more than $750 per consumer per incident, actual damages, and injunctive or declaratory relief.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

CONSUMER REPORTING

Philadelphia
Effective February 20, 2021, Philadelphia has expanded legislation to prohibit covered employers from using an applicant’s credit-related information in connection with employment decisions or considerations. The amendment expands the scope of covered employers to include financial institutions and law enforcement agencies operating in Philadelphia, which were previously exempt from the law’s requirements. Once in effect, law enforcement agencies and financial institutions (such as banks, insurance companies, and brokerage firms) may not rely, in whole or in part, on credit-related information to take adverse employment action related to job applicants or employees, unless exceptions apply (obtained under federal or state law, for example).
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Nationwide
There’s no question, Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) case filings continue to increase year over year. Here’s a link to 10 FCRA case decisions from 2020 that all clearly illustrate the importance of accuracy, disclosure, and compliance with credit reporting laws. Take a read and then let A-Check know if you have any questions about your background screening program.
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A Friendly Reminder about FCRA Requirements
As you’re well aware, when an employer uses a third party (like A-Check) to conduct background checks, there are FCRA compliance requirements that must be followed. For your convenience, here’s a very quick checklist of key requirements:

• Ensure there is a permissible purpose for performing a background check on an applicant/employee, based on their role and responsibilities.
• Provide clear written notice in a stand-alone document to the applicant/employee that a background check will be conducted, and the resulting information will be used to make an employment decision.
• Obtain the applicant/employee’s written consent to perform a background check and/or investigative report.
• If the background check information results in an adverse action decision, a notice of pre-adverse action, along with a copy of the background check results and a copy of the Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, must be presented to the individual.
• Allow the individual at least five business days to dispute the information in the background check
• Upon a final decision, and if adverse action is taken, provide the individual with a final notice of adverse action.

We’re focused on helping you remain compliant, and always welcome your questions.

I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
The in-person requirement for the Form I-9 is temporarily suspended if your company is taking precautions due to COVID-19. The general rule is that an employer must undertake a physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee for section 2 purposes.

UPDATE: Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now MARCH 31, 2021.

The government has suspended the in-person and physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee when completing the Form I-9. During this time, an employer can view the document(s) presented by the employee via Zoom or Skype, for example.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

Nationwide Cannabis Bills in 2021
After the 2020 election where we saw five states pass marijuana legalization measures, now more than a dozen state legislatures are considering bills this year for medical and/or adult-use cannabis legalization.
Adult-Use Legalization Efforts:
Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia
Medical Legalization Efforts:
Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Tennessee
Both Medical and Adult-Use Legalization Efforts:
Indiana, South Carolina
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AS A REMINDER: At A-Check, we’re happy to help implement a drug screening program that meets your evolving needs—or make adjustments to the program you’re already running with us. Just give us a call at 877-345-2021 and ask to speak with someone on your Client Relations team.

BAN THE BOX

Illinois
Illinois is one of several states that have passed a Ban the Box law—called the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act—which prohibits most employers from asking about criminal history until the later stages of the application process. Under the law, employers may not ask about or consider an applicant’s criminal history until they have 1) determined the applicant to be qualified for the position, and 2) notified the applicant of being selected for an interview, or if there is no interview, extended a conditional job offer to the applicant.
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COVID-19

COVID-19 Rapid Infection At-Home Collection
Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically impacted the business landscape worldwide, it is also encouraging to now see employers focused on safely and gradually welcoming their workforces back to the office. Depending on your company’s return to office policies, requiring employees to test negative for COVID-19 prior to an office return may be a viable complement to office cleaning and sanitation practices. We want to quickly let you know that A-Check is here to help by providing COVID-19 testing and surveillance solutions through A-Check’s medical partner networks. Through A-Check’s partnership with Quest Diagnostics, we offer an at-home collection option to help diagnose whether your employees currently have COVID-19.
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DATA PRIVACY

Washington State
An updated Washington state privacy act, SB 5062, was re-introduced in early January with revisions to consumer rights regarding their personal data, controller responsibility, and more. The bill will apply to companies conducting business or offering products and services to Washington consumers, controlling or processing data for 100,000+ consumers, and adds nonprofit corporations, air carriers, and higher learning institutions to the list.
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Oklahoma
In legislation news we’re watching: Oklahoma joins numerous other states in proposing consumer data privacy legislation. The Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act (OCDPA), House Bill 1602, was filed in January for review and commentary. If passed, the OCDPA would require that certain companies obtain prior consent before collecting and selling consumer data. The bill also gives Oklahoma residents a mechanism for requesting that businesses disclose what information they have about them, as well as the right to request deletion of that information. The bill also provides a private right of action for Oklahoma residents for which residents may seek injunctive relief, actual damages, and statutory damages up to $7,500 for intentional violations.
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Virginia
Virginia House of Delegates voted 89-9 to pass a privacy bill, potentially making Virginia the next state behind California to enact a comprehensive data privacy law similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Now, going one step further, Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) is now expected to be signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam, and would take effect on January 1, 2023. Companies already complying with the CCPA have a head start on their compliance efforts but will need to plan privacy compliance program adjustments to be fully prepared for the CDPA, including consumer rights regarding personal data, controller responsibility, and more.
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California
Yes, the CPRA deferred some of the CCPA’s employee-related requirements until Jan. 1, 2023. That said, employers are still required to provide employees with notice prior to collection of personal data. Since January 1, 2020, a notice at collection, which must be provided “at or before the point at which” the collection of information occurs, including: a list of personal information categories collected, permissible purpose, how to opt out, and how to find and view a company’s privacy notice.
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Questions? We’re here to help!

CONSUMER REPORTING

FTC Settles Tenant Background Screening Company Claim
Welcome to 2021, where—no surprise—compliance is still just as important. The Federal Trade Commission has reached a $4.25 million settlement regarding alleged unfair or deceptive acts in connection with background screening reports. More specifically, 1) identifiers did not reasonably match the applicant, 2) inconsistencies existed in identifiers, 3) records did not accurately reflect offenses, and 4) multiple entries existed for criminal records. This particular complaint alleged that reasonable procedures were not in place to assure the accuracy of the criminal and eviction records obtained from a third party vendor for tenant background screening reports. While these screens were presented to landlords and property management companies, it also is a very important example to illustrate why everyone at A-Check is committed to ensuring we meet your organization’s screening requests with attention to compliant business practices.
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A Friendly Reminder about FCRA Requirements
As you’re well aware, when an employer uses a third party (like A-Check) to conduct background checks, there are FCRA compliance requirements that must be followed. For your convenience, here’s a very quick checklist of key requirements:

• Ensure there is a permissible purpose for performing a background check on an applicant/employee, based on their role and responsibilities.
• Provide clear written notice in a stand-alone document to the applicant/employee that a background check will be conducted, and the resulting information will be used to make an employment decision.
• Obtain the applicant/employee’s written consent to perform a background check and/or investigative report.
• If the background check information results in an adverse action decision, a notice of pre-adverse action, along with a copy of the background check results and a copy of the Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, must be presented to the individual.
• Allow the individual at least five business days to dispute the information in the background check
• Upon a final decision, and if adverse action is taken, provide the individual with a final notice of adverse action.

We’re focused on helping you remain compliant, and always welcome your questions.

I-9 AND E-VERIFY

Ongoing Extension: Form I-9 Requirements in response to COVID-19
The in-person requirement for the Form I-9 is temporarily suspended if your company is taking precautions due to COVID-19. The general rule is that an employer must undertake a physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee for section 2 purposes.

UPDATE: Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, remote I-9 document review has been extended; the expiration date for these accommodations is now MARCH 31, 2021.

The government has suspended the in-person and physical inspection of the document(s) presented by the employee when completing the Form I-9. During this time, an employer can view the document(s) presented by the employee via Zoom or Skype, for example.
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Florida
Florida Public Employers: Every public employer, contractor, and subcontractor in Florida must now register with and use the E-Verify system to verify the work authorization status of all newly hired employees. E-Verify is the online system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify and confirm the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees. Both federal and Florida law prohibit employing individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. Many states have legislation mandating E-Verify use, now including Florida.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING

What We’re Watching: Potential Legislation
Looking ahead, New York, Connecticut, and Virginia might be three states likely to legalize marijuana in 2021. And 2020 national Gallup polling hits an all-time high with 68% in favor of U.S. legalization. Currently, 36 states have enacted medical cannabis legislation, with 15 also allowing for the adult-use consumption and/or retail sale of marijuana. Although 2021 isn’t a big year for elections, there are indications that New York, Connecticut, and Virginia may consider cannabis law this year.
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Illinois
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced the forgiveness and expungement of about 500,000 criminal cannabis cases, as mandated by the Illinois law that legalized the licensed sale of marijuana starting in 2020. Pardons were issued for 9,210 low-level cannabis convictions, while Illinois State Police have wiped clean more than 492,000 non-felony cannabis-related arrest records. The intent of the law is to reduce the impact of the war on drugs on minorities, who were disproportionately arrested and locked up for cannabis crimes.
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New Jersey
Although there have been delays in legislative action, and after voters approved legalization in November, the governor of New Jersey recently reaffirmed commitment to passing laws regarding marijuana. Lawmakers introduced marijuana legislation last November, soon after voters approved cannabis reform. However, since then, it’s been subject to a number of changes and delays in legislative action.
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AS A REMINDER: At A-Check, we’re happy to help implement a drug screening program that meets your evolving needs—or make adjustments to the program you’re already running with us. Just give us a call at 877-345-2021 and ask to speak with someone on your Client Relations team.

BAN THE BOX

Nationwide
It’s now reported that as many as three-fourths of U.S. population lives within a Ban the Box jurisdiction. That’s nearly 40 states and 150+ cities and counties nationwide. Ban the Box legislation provides applicants a fair chance at employment by removing conviction and arrest history questions from job applications and delaying background checks until later in the hiring process, or even after a conditional offer has been made. We recently found a great site that clearly illustrates current states and localities with Ban the Box legislation in place.
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DATA PRIVACY

New year, new privacy legislation. In 2021, we will likely see a wave of GDPR-like regulatory measures to address data protection and privacy around the world. With information security the focal point of a world that has made the shift to remote activity, this year may prove to be a year where countries not only catch up with their privacy legislation backlogs, but also work to enact 2021 privacy legislation. Here in the United States, three states (California, Nevada, and Maine) have enacted consumer privacy legislation, with 16 more introducing similar laws of their own. And, while there is federal law providing some degree of data protection, efforts are still being put forth to create an overarching framework to govern privacy law.
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COVID-19

COVID-19 Rapid Infection At-Home Collection
Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically impacted the business landscape worldwide, it is also encouraging to now see employers focused on safely and gradually welcoming their workforces back to the office. Depending on your company’s return to office policies, requiring employees to test negative for COVID-19 prior to an office return may be a viable complement to office cleaning and sanitation practices. We want to quickly let you know that A-Check is here to help by providing COVID-19 testing and surveillance solutions through A-Check’s medical partner networks. Through A-Check’s partnership with Quest Diagnostics, we offer an at-home swab collection option to help diagnose whether your employees currently have COVID-19.
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Questions? We’re here to help!