Background checks

California is well-known for innovative laws regarding individual rights. As background checks have become increasingly important for employment and housing, California has moved to regulate them. Although California laws are stricter than most states, they have often served as a template for others to follow. A few of the bills being considered could have dramatic effects if they should pass. In this blog post, we will delve into some of the proposed and recently passed background check bills in California that impact employee and tenant screening.

Senate Bill 809: Fair Chance Act of 2023 – Limiting Employers’ Access to Applicants’ Conviction Histories

Senate Bill 809, also known as the Fair Chance Act of 2023, is an extension of the Fair Chance Act passed in 2018. It seeks to restrict most private employers from using a job applicant’s conviction history in their hiring decisions. The 2018 act provided a version of ban the box, in which criminal history could not be considered until after a conditional offer of employment. But the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is still very high — claimed to be 60% — and the […]