New Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance Imposes Obligations on Employers

by Jeffrey Horton Thomas, Fox Rothschild LLP - JD Supra

Starting September 3, 2024, employers must comply with involved new requirements if they wish to consider criminal backgrounds in making hiring or promotional decisions for positions that will perform work in any unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.  The requirements — imposed by the County’s Fair Chance Ordinance — will be significantly more burdensome for employers than those under the statewide Fair Chance Act or the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-los-angeles-county-fair-chance-2782431/

No blood, no job? Companies using blood analysis for employee screening: report

by Dexter Tilo - Human Resources Director (HRD)

A new report is calling for new provisions in Australia's privacy and workplace relations laws amid findings that some organisations are requiring blood analysis from job applicants.

Research from the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work found that some organisations are using blood analysis to screen future employees for "health risks" that they allege may impact job performance.

Read more: https://www.hcamag.com/au/specialisation/recruitment/no-blood-no-job-companies-using-blood-analysis-for-employee-screening-report/502250

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

North Dakota voters to weigh in again on marijuana legalization

by Jack Dura - Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota has qualified for the November election, the state’s top election official said Monday. That sets up another vote on the issue in the conservative state after voters and lawmakers rejected previous efforts in recent years.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-marijuana-legalization-ballot-initiative-election-8f5a443e1dca69cd3ded19c4e9acb3d6

Illinois Enacts BIPA Amendment Limiting Violation Accrual

by Lindsey Tonsager, Libbie Canter, Priya Leeds - Covington

On August 2, 2024, Illinois’ governor signed into law S.B. 2979, a significant amendment to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The law states that an entity that, in more than one instance, obtains the same biometric identifier or biometric information from the same person using the same method of collection in violation of BIPA’s notice and consent requirement has committed a single violation. As a result, each aggrieved person is entitled to, at most, one recovery for a single collective violation.

Read more: https://www.insideprivacy.com/data-privacy/illinois-enacts-bipa-amendment-limiting-violation-accrual/

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/

AI in the Workplace: The New Legal Landscape Facing US Employers

by Kimberley Lunetta, Michael Schlemmer, Zachary Shine - Morgan Lewis - JD Supra

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the employment landscape, automating tasks, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making. At the same time, the technology raises concerns about potential biases, accuracy, and increasingly complex legal compliance.

As AI’s influence grows in the United States, so too has government oversight. Lawmakers and policymakers—from the Biden administration to city governments—have issued guidance, policies, and laws to govern the use of AI in the workplace, giving employers a new legal landscape to navigate.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ai-in-the-workplace-the-new-legal-8539979

Colorado Amends State Privacy Law to Include Biometric Data Requirements

by Jessica Arett, Emily Keimig, Brian Tengel, Venable LLP - JD Supra

On May 31, 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed into law Colorado House Bill 24-1130 (HB 1130), amending the Colorado Privacy Act (the CPA) to impose new requirements on controllers that process biometric data. The amendments go into effect July 1, 2025. Unlike the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), HB 1130 does not create a private right of action.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/colorado-amends-state-privacy-law-to-7447050/

Rhode Island Legislature Passes Consumer Data Privacy Act

by David Stauss, Husch Blackwell LLP - JD Supra

Keypoint: While the act does not include many provisions found in the more recent consumer data privacy laws, it would expand privacy notice obligations in one significant way although the applicability and scope of that requirement is unclear due to the lack of an important definition.

On June 13, 2024, the Rhode Island legislature passed the Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act (SB 2500 / HB 7787). The act will now move to Governor Daniel McKee for consideration. Assuming the act becomes laws, it will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/rhode-island-legislature-passes-2761107/

Construction Workers in New Jersey Public Schools Need Background Checks, Lawmakers Say

by Shore News Network

TRENTON, NJ — New legislation introduced in New Jersey aims to fortify the safety protocols surrounding construction and public works activities in school environments. The bill, which revises existing requirements for criminal history record checks, mandates that all workers involved in school construction or public works must demonstrate clean criminal records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation or State Bureau of Identification before commencing work.

Read more: https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2024/06/09/construction-workers-in-new-jersey-public-schools-need-background-checks-lawmakers-say/