Corporate Screening Completes Rerun of Searches for OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities Database (8/20/2010)
We reported last week that the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) database of the OIG was down between July 15, 2010 through August 4, 2010, which may have rendered some checks administered during this timeframe inaccurate....
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Illinois Prohibits Use of Credit Information in Employment Decisions With Limited Exceptions (8/12/2010)
Illinois just joined Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in restricting employers from using credit information in employment decisions...
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Governor Signs CORI Reform Prohibiting Massachusetts Employers from Inquiring About Criminal Convictions on "Initial" Applications (8/11/2010)
Last week Governor Patrick signed into law legislation overhauling the Commonwealth's Criminal Offender Record Information Law (CORI). The new law prohibits employers from asking questions on an "initial written application form" about an applicant's "criminal offender record information," which includes information regarding criminal charges, arrests and incarceration...
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ATTENTION: OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH LIST OF EXCLUDED INDIVIDUALS DATABASE. (8/6/2010)
The OIG reported today that their database was down between July 15, 2010 through August 4, 2010, which may have rendered some checks administered during this timeframe inaccurate. ....
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MERRIMACK SUPERIOR COURT CLERK'S OFFICE CLOSED TO PUBLIC DAILY 1-4PM BEGINNING AUGUST 2nd. (7/27/2010)
The State of New Hampshire announced last week that, beginning August 2, 2010, the Merrimack County Superior Court clerk's office will be closed to the public daily from 1:00 to 4:00PM. ....
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I-9 COMPLIANCE – BREAKING NEWS. (7/1/2010)
Today, several E-Verify state law provisions go into effect, impacting employers in South Carolina, Mississippi, and Utah....
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New York's OCA Criminal History Records Search Fee Increasing July 1, 2010. (6/30/2010)
Effective July 1, 2010, the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) statewide criminal history record search fee is increasing from $55 to $65 per search....
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Latest FACT Act Rule Has implications for HR Departments that Provide Employment Verifications to Background Screening Firms. (6/25/2010)
The Federal Trade Commission's final regulations that relate to the obligations of furnishers who provide information to consumer reporting agencies (CRA) goes into effect next Thursday, July 1st...
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New Hampshire Courts Closed May 28th (5/25/2010)
All state courts will be closed Friday, May 28th for the second of three furlough days this spring...
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Attention Ohio Clients: FBI Reports Upcoming Temporary Delay in Background Check Results (4/12/2010)
We have been notified by the FBI that because of the background checks that are being processed for the U.S. Census Bureau, those background checks submitted by state agencies between April 28th and May 3rd, 2010 will not be processed until the week of May 4th, 2010..
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High Court to Consider NASA Background Screening Case (4/1/2010)
U.S. Supreme Court Announces It Will Hear Oral Argument Next Session Involving Federal Contractors That Could Have Far Reaching Implications For All Employers.
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Use of Credit History as a Factor in Hiring and Employment Status Losing Ground (3/31/2010)
The state of Oregon passed legislation this week that specifically prohibits employers from using credit history in making employment decisions such as hiring, discharging, promoting and compensating unless that individual is given advance notice in writing and the credit history is related to the position.
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California Case Protects Constitutional Right of Background Screening Firm to Report Sex Offender Registration (3/26/2010)
A CA Court of Appeals decision filed March 23, 2010 maintained that a background screening firm has a constitutional right to report that an applicant has appeared on the Megan's Law website (MLW) as a registered sex offender.
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Mother Nature and Court Closures Causing General Court Backlogs (2/12/2010)
As everyone is aware, severe weather conditions have afflicted the majority of the East Coast and other areas of the country this past week. In addition, many state courts are closing.
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ALL CA COURTS ARE CLOSED MONDAY, JANUARY 18TH IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (1/18/2010)
In addition, California courts will continue their one-day-a-month closures.
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FTC EXTENDS ENFORCEMENT DEADLINE FOR IDENTITY THEFT RED FLAGS RULE (11/2/2009)
The Federal Trade Commission is delaying enforcement of the Red Flags Rule until June 1, 2010for financial institutions and creditors subject to enforcement by the FTC.
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CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR VETOES BILL (10/12/2009)
Governor Schwarzenegger just vetoed Assembly Bill 943, which was intended to prohibit the use of consumer credit reports for employment purposes unless the information is substantially job related or required by law to be disclosed or obtained by the user of the report.
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CALIFORNIA AND VERMONT STATE COURTS CLOSINGS SCHEDULE (9/29/2009)
Corporate Screening reported earlier this month California's decision to close state courts one day a month as part of a plan that will offset budget cutbacks. In addition, the state of Vermont has followed suit.
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UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET CUTS CAUSE CALIFORNIA STATE COURTS TO CLOSE ONE DAY A MONTH (9/22/2009)
California state courts were closed September 16th as part of a plan that will offset budget cutbacks through state court closures one day a month from September 2009 through June 2010.
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FORM I-9 COMPLIANCE UPDATE (8/27/2009)
E-Verify Challenge Dismissed By Federal Judge; Implementation Imminent For Federal Contractors Executive order 12989, which mandates that federal contractors use the E-Verify system to confirm employee work authorization, will be implemented as early as September 8, 2009.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE INCREASES COURT FEES DRAMATICALLY, STARTING AUGUST 1ST (7/15/2009)
The State of New Hampshire Administrative Office of the Courts has issued an order amending and significantly increasing court fees, which goes into effect August 1, 2009.
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USCIS ISSUES GUIDEANCE ON EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM I-9 (7/13/2009)
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reported that the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (Rev. 2/2/09) will continue to be valid for use beyond June 30, 2009.
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FEDERAL CONTRACTOR RULE DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 (6/9/2009)
A regulation that would require certain federal contractors to participate in the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification program will once again be postponed, to September 8, 2009. The regulation is the subject of an ongoing challenge in federal court.
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NEW COVER PAGES ACCOMPANYING REPORTS STARTING THIS WEEK (6/9/2009)
You might notice a slight change in the look of your delivered background reports starting this week, as Corporate Screening has added some new information to its cover pages.
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EMPLOYMENT SELECTION PROCEDURES ACT PASSED IN UTAH (5/20/2009)
Utah recently passed the Employment Selection Procedures Act, Utah Code 34A-1-202, which prohibits what personal information an employer with more than 15 employees in the state of Utah may require an applicant to provide during the pre-employment process.
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NEW I-9 FORM EFFECTIVE TODAY (4/3/2009)
Employers must use the revised Form I-9 for all new hires (and re-verifications) beginning April 3, 2009. The current edition of the Form I-9, dated "06/05/2007" will no longer be valid.Employers who continue to use the 06/05/2007 version of the Form I-9 on or after April 3, 2009 may be subject to civil monetary penalties.
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NEW REGULATIONS REQUIRE FINGERPRINTING FOR NURSING LICENSE RENEWAL IN CALIFORNIA (2/12/2009)
Regulations were recently approved that require the submission of fingerprints for California RNs upon license renewal if they were not previously fingerprinted by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
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NEW I-9 FORM USE DELAYED (2/3/2009)
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has delayed the effective date for using the revised Form I-9 that was originally scheduled to go into effect this week until April 3, 2009. Please note: Employers who use the new form prior to the April 3rd effective date are subject to civil monetary penalties.
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REMINDER: LEGISLATION AFFECTS NEW YORK EMPLOYERS (1/20/2009)
New York recently enacted new legislation impacting all New York companies that procure criminal background checks on job applicants and employees from third-party background screening companies.
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RECORD ACCESS BARRIERS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY(11/18/2008)
Researchers in San Jose are grappling with increasing barriers that are causing growing headaches and slower turnaround times on court records analysis. Access to records in this court has systematically deteriorated to where it has become a significant problem.
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IDENTITY THEFT RULES GOING INTO EFFECT NOVEMBER 1ST (10/20/2008)
New rules are going into effect November 1st that will address discrepancies in consumer credit reports; however, they will not have a big impact on employers and may even help employers avoid hiring someone with a false identity.
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LEGISLATION AFFECTS NEW YORK EMPLOYERS (9/24/2008)
New York recently enacted new legislation impacting all New York companies that procure criminal background checks on job applicants and employees from third-party background screening companies. The legislation represents an amendment to Section 380-c and 380-g of the General Business Law and goes into effect on February 1, 2009.
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CALIFORNIA BILL AB2918 (08/25/08)
California AB2918 is a bill that, if passed, would prohibit the use of consumer credit reports by employers needed to evaluate the trustworthiness, integrity, and responsibility of candidates for employment. This is critical in situations where the person is being considered for a position where funds, personal information, and/or confidential business information will be involved.
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PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CA. (07/09/08)
Placer County Superior Court, CA will be closed this week. The court will be moving to their new facility in the Bill Santucci Justice Center located in Roseville, CA. Subsequently, the clerk of courts has indicated that record searches at the court will be unavailable until July 15th.
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CONNECTICUT (06/10/08)
Connecticut Law Requires Safeguards For Personal Data and Social Security Number Policy
On June 10, 2008, Connecticut enacted a law which will require businesses that maintain personal information (e.g. Social Security number (SSN), driver's license number, account number, or credit/debit card number), to, among other things:
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CONNECTICUT (05/1/08)
Connecticut Enacts New Requirements
Effective May 1, 2008, Connecticut Senate Bill 704 requires new communications for consumer reporting agencies, including background screening companies like Corporate Screening.
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OKLAHOMA (03/25/08)
Oklahoma Court Limits Access to State Public Records
The Oklahoma State Supreme Court ruled that individual pleadings and other court documents filed in state court shall not be publicly displayed on the internet.  Oklahomans wishing to see this information must go to the courthouse to view it.
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FORM I9 (11/15/07)
USCIS REVISES EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM I-9
As of November 7, 2007, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) have issued a new employment verification Form I-9 for all new employees hired in the United States.  The revision complies with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), which reduces the number of documents employers may accept from new employees during the employment eligibility verification process.
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (10/26/07)
Fire Closes San Diego Superior Court
The fires that have been wreaking havoc across Southern California have forced the closing of the San Diego Superior Court.  All pending background investigations involving San Diego County have been delayed until the court re-opens on Monday 10/29/07. 

CALIFORNIA (10/05/07)
Clerk Strike Delays Public Access to Santa Cruz County Criminal Index 
All pending background investigations involving Santa Cruz County (CA) have been delayed following a clerk strike (currently in resolution) which has caused a massive backlog in processing requests.  We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as soon as the situation is rectified. 

NEW YORK STATE (08/30/07)
New York Restricts Disclosure of Social Security Numbers
Effective January 1, 2008, the state of New York will restrict the use of Social Security numbers by businesses, including hospitals. The New York State Social Security Number Protection Law applies to all nongovernmental associations and corporations and includes a number of restrictions and stipulations.
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