Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Chamber Opposes Credit Check Bill
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce opposes legislation, SB 312/HB 175, that would prohibit an employer from using an applicant’s credit report or credit history when making hiring decisions unless there is a bona fide work-related purpose.
The issue is already well regulated at the federal level, where applicants and employees are protected through the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, Federal Bankruptcy Act, as well as other Federal and Maryland laws that limit possible adverse impact on an individual.
“Employers need the flexibility to use a variety of factors to determine the best candidate to fill a position,” Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Allyson Black said. “This is particularly true for employees who handle cash or financial information.”
We’ve heard from a number of members who have concerns about this legislation. The House bill will be heard on February 10. If your company would be impacted by this legislation, we’d appreciate your feedback. Please contact Allyson Black at .
