Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce adult-use marijuana legalization bill

by MJBizDaily Staff - MJBizDaily

An adult-use marijuana legalization bill introduced on Friday is the first bipartisan cannabis reform bill to appear in the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives.

However, it is uncertain whether this latest effort can overcome the partisan gridlock that’s kept other cannabis legalization proposals from passing in the state Senate.

Sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Emily Kinkead and Republican Rep. Aaron Kaufer, House Bill 2500 follows a proposed marijuana legalization framework that the duo proposed in a June memo.

Read more: https://mjbizdaily.com/pennsylvania-lawmakers-introduce-adult-use-marijuana-legalization-bill/

Landmark AI Discrimination Bill Stalls Out in California Legislature, But Other AI Measures Advance

by Benjamin Ebbink, Fisher Phillips - JD Supra

California lawmakers knocked back a chance to pass a groundbreaking AI discrimination that would have required employers to provide notification – and perhaps an accommodation – to workers when artificial intelligence is used in certain critical ways during hiring or employment. The bill, which would have also required employers and AI developers to establish robust governance programs and conduct impact assessments to mitigate against algorithmic discrimination, was poised for passage but ultimately lawmakers could not agree on a final version before the legislative session ended at midnight on Saturday night. We expect to see legislators take another crack at such a proposal in 2025, so this isn’t the last you’ve heard of this proposal. Meanwhile, three other AI-related bills advanced to the governor’s desk and will be closely monitored before the September 30 deadline for action. What do employers need to know?

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/landmark-ai-discrimination-bill-stalls-9064254

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/