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Speech by Beth Givens, PRC Director, at the Conference of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners

Nashville, TN
April 5, 2006

Priscilla was seeking a promotion in her county job. She was asked to sign a waiver allowing the personnel department to conduct a background check. She felt the waiver was far too broad. This is an excerpt:

Bill started a temp-to-permanent job and was asked to perform a fingerprint check. Two weeks later, he was let go because of an arrest in 1990 for theft. He called the courthouse to check out for the criminal record, but there was no information on file.

John had been regularly denied employment due to poor credit stemming from a stroke. During a recent job interview, he spoke very candidly about his financial position—making them aware that he suffered a stroke and lost his job as a result. Read More

A specialty consumer report (compiled by a specialty consumer reporting agency) may include

You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in any consumer report prepared about you by a consumer reporting agency (CRA) including credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and specialty agencies (check writing history, medical records, rental history).

An August 25-26 survey of over 500 Californians reveals overwhelming consumer support for California Senate Bill 362 (SB 362)—the California  Delete Act—and significant consumer concerns regarding the collection and selling of their personal data by data brokers.

Findings include:

Generally, no.

It can only be seen by certain employers (public utilities, law enforcement, security guard firms and childcare facilities).