Colorado’s HB1291: A Case of Excessive Regulation That Hurts More Than It Helps

by Jillian Snider - R Street

Although Colorado’s HB1291 (the “Transportation Network Company Consumer Protection” bill) is marketed as a public safety initiative, a closer look reveals a heavy-handed regulatory approach that threatens economic opportunity, consumer choice, and civil liberties. While rideshare safety is important, this bill introduces burdensome and unnecessary directives that could force businesses out of the state, drive up costs for riders, and disproportionately impact low-income workers seeking flexible employment.

Read more: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/colorado-transportation-bill-is-a-case-of-excessive-regulation-that-hurts-more-than-it-helps/

New Florida law requires enhanced background checks for school volunteers

by Brianna Brownlee, WJXT - News4JAX

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new Florida law is now in effect, mandating that school volunteers pass enhanced background checks to ensure the safety and security of students.

The bill, signed into law during the 2023 state legislative session, officially took effect on March 1.

The new requirements apply to both new and existing volunteers who work with students.

Previously, volunteers were required to complete a Level 1 background check, which is name-based only. However, the new law requires volunteers to pass a Level 2 background check, which relies on fingerprints.

Read more: https://www.news4jax.com/news/2025/03/05/new-florida-law-requires-enhanced-background-checks-for-school-volunteers/

New bill would boost safety, background-check requirements for TNCs like Lyft, Uber

by Ed Sealover - The Sum & Substance

Seeking to protect Uber and Lyft customers, a group of Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill Friday that would boost steps companies must take to perform background checks on drivers and ensure unauthorized persons are not picking up rides in place of those drivers.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Jenny Willford of Northglenn and Meg Froelich of Greenwood Village, also would ensure transportation-network-company drivers work no more than 10-hour shifts and would require each ride to be continuously recorded via video and audio. It also would allow people injured by violations of the bill to file civil lawsuits against a TNC or a driver, and it would make violations of the proposed law deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, which allows for much greater financial awards.

Read more: https://tsscolorado.com/new-bill-would-boost-safety-background-check-requirements-for-tncs-like-lyft-uber/

Oregon removes nearly 50K eviction records from background checks

by Sabinna Pierre - MSN

Oregon's state courts have cleared about 47,000 residential eviction records from people's backgrounds, a significant step toward reducing barriers to housing access under a new state law.

The law, ORS 105.164 (House Bill 2001, 2023), requires courts to "set aside" and "seal" past residential evictions that meet specific criteria. These sealed evictions will no longer appear in background checks, legally treated as if they never occurred.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oregon-removes-nearly-50k-eviction-records-from-background-checks/ar-AA1xHIuB

Oregon courts clear 47K residential eviction records

by Sabrina Pierre - KGW8

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon's state courts have cleared about 47,000 residential eviction records from people's backgrounds, a significant step toward reducing barriers to housing access under a new state law.

The law, ORS 105.164 (House Bill 2001, 2023), requires courts to "set aside" and "seal" past residential evictions that meet specific criteria. These sealed evictions will no longer appear in background checks, legally treated as if they never occurred.

Read more: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-removes-eviction-records-background-checks/283-858aa702-5bf8-4c06-a24e-0be2898cde69

School volunteer background screenings will intensify

by Marc Valero - Highlands News-Sun

A more intense background screening will go into effect March 1, 2025 in Florida for those who volunteer in public schools increasing the cost of the screening.

School Board of Highlands County Coordinator of Communications John Varady said the School Board has already been following the updated screening requirements for employees and will begin utilizing the new screening procedures for volunteers in 2025, prior to the March 1st date.

Read more: https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/news/school-volunteer-background-screenings-will-intensify/article_56c636dc-c15e-11ef-9fbe-7f851693f411.html

California’s Background Check Limits Are Impeding Hiring

by Roy Maurer - SHRM

Legal developments in California limiting criminal history searches are causing significant hiring delays and unworkable burdens in the employment screening process.

The situation arose from a May 2021 California Court of Appeal decision in All of Us or None — Riverside Chapter v. Hamrick, which has prevented background screeners from using dates of birth or driver’s license numbers as input terms in electronic criminal record searches.

Read more: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/talent-acquisition/california-background-check-limits-hamrick

Lawmakers Introduce Criminal Information Protection Bill in Trenton

by Shore News Network

TRENTON, N.J. — A new bill introduced in the New Jersey legislature aims to update procedures for handling criminal background checks in the state, particularly focusing on individuals with pending expungement orders. The proposed law would amend P.L.1985, c.169, requiring the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) within the New Jersey State Police to verify and update criminal records before disseminating any background information.

Read more: https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2024/10/22/lawmakers-introduce-criminal-information-protection-bill-in-trenton/

Former Employee Sues Amazon Over Alleged Fair Credit Reporting Act Violation

by Nothern California Record

A former Amazon employee has lost her appeal in a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Lovenia Scott filed the complaint on January 8, 2020, in San Francisco City & County Superior Court against Golden State FC, LLC (now known as Amazon.com Services LLC) and Amazon.com, Inc.

Read more: https://norcalrecord.com/stories/662606621-former-employee-sues-amazon-over-alleged-fair-credit-reporting-act-violation

Navigating California’s Complex Employment Landscape: Recent Developments in Background Checks and Privacy

by Leigh White, CDF Labor Law LLP - JD Supra

Employers in California face significant challenges when it comes to accessing public records for background checks, particularly concerning criminal history and motor vehicle records. California’s employment laws are constantly evolving, and a recent court decision may expand an employer’s ability to access a potential employee’s motor vehicle records. 

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/navigating-california-s-complex-7778141/