Va. legislators investigating updating background checks on college students, transfer students

In light of the kidnapping of a University of Virginia student, Hannah Graham, the state’s lawmakers are considering re-vamping the process for conducting background checks not only on the state’s university students, but also how they handle students that transfer from one university to another within the state. Jesse Matthew Jr., a former football player…

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Audit: 3,800 Michigan home-health workers had felony convictions

3,786 home-healthcare providers who had a previous felony conviction on record. The audit also revealed that state social workers did not meet with those who required home-health care — or their families — to determine if proper care was being provided, and that the state had spent $160 million of Medicaid’s funds improperly between October…

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Minnesota to expand caregiver screening to prevent negligent retention

Beginning in October 2014, Minnesota’s Department of Human Services is expected to implement new policies for pre-employment background screening when it comes to caregivers for the elderly, disabled and children. New state legislation has passed requiring all current and future employees in these industries to undergo fingerprint background checks, in an attempt to avoid the…

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Louisville unanimously passes ‘ban the box’ legislation

In a 26-0 vote, the Louisville Metro Council has approved legislation that will make Louisville, Ky., the latest to ban the box. Louisville joins cities such as Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as states including Rhode Island and California in their efforts against discrimination. This movement prevents employers from immediately disqualifying applicants…

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Charlotte ‘bans the box’ on initial job applications

Charlotte, N.C., joins with other large cities such as Seattle and San Francisco in their decision to “ban the box” by removing questions from job applications regarding an applicant’s criminal history. City job applicants were previously required to inform a potential employer if they had “ever pled guilty to, or been convicted of, a crime…

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Utah bill to preclude criminal history on employment background checks

Utah legislators in the state House of Representatives have voted to approve a bill that would prevent pre-employment background checks from turning up potential employee criminal history records unless the candidate was convicted. SB145 states that criminal history records may not be disseminated to potential employers if they contain charges that have been dropped. If…

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North Carolina's new law on inquiries about expunged records

newly amended statute prohibits any inquiry that results in revealing an “expunged” arrest, charge or conviction. Although few employers ever expressly ask about expunged records, the concern is now much broader – employers must also not seek or ask about criminal histories in a manner that results in the disclosure of any expunged information. “North…

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