Legislation pending in in the state of Texas – Senate Bill 990 (SB 990) – would prevent private companies that compile criminal history information in a database that is available in a searchable format from maintaining or sharing information about expunged records once they have received notice that the record has been expunged. The bill also seeks to create a listing of database companies so that notices of expungements can be directed to those who might have outdated information. More information about Texas Senate Bill 990 is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB990. (more…)

Attorney and safe hiring expert Lester Rosen, Founder and CEO of nationwide accredited background check firm Employment Screening Resources (ESR), was recently interviewed by Tom Field, Vice President of Editorial with Information Security Media Group, about the 6th annual ESR ‘Top 10 Background Check Trends for 2013.’ The interview with Rosen revealed a new emphasis on the accuracy of information in reports and use of criminal records by employers. To listen to the interview, visit the BankInfoSecurity.com website at http://www.bankinfosecurity.com/interviews/top-10-screening-trends-for-2013-i-1760. (more…)

In resolving the first Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) case involving mobile “apps,” marketers of mobile applications that compiled and sold criminal record background check reports as job applicant screening tools have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that they operated as consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) without taking consumer protection measures required by the FCRA.  The FTC’s settlement order, which prohibits the companies involved from future FCRA violations, is available at http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/1123195/130110filquarianagree.pdf. (more…)

A new focus on accuracy in the background screening industry has emerged after several reports about inaccurate background checks appeared in the news recently. The latest story is a blog on HuffingtonPost.com titled ‘5 Stories of Background Checks Gone Awry’ that describes how background checks used when people apply for jobs, open bank accounts, or rent or buy homes can sometimes be “just wrong.” The HuffingtonPost.com blog, which lists five specific incidences of when background checks contained bad information, is available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-steiner/5-stories-of-background-c_b_2427586.html. (more…)

Nationwide accredited background check firm Employment Screening Resources (ESR) has released its Sixth Annual ‘ESR Top Ten Background Check Trends for 2013’ featuring emerging and influential trends in the background screening industry selected by ESR Founder and CEO Attorney Lester Rosen. For 2013, the focus on accuracy of background check report information and the greater scrutiny of the screening industry was chosen as the number one trend. The Sixth Annual ‘ESR Top Ten Background Check Trends for 2013’ is available at http://www.esrcheck.com/Top-Ten-Background-Check-Trends-for-2013.php. (more…)