Under House Bill 689, Pennsylvania legislators clarified employer background screening and hiring responsibilities. The bill went into effect on February 12, 2024.
Previously, employers were permitted to consider only job-related misdemeanors or felony convictions when making decisions related to hiring. HB689 further clarifies the immunity from liability for employers when any claim related to the legal use of criminal record history information disclosed voluntarily by an applicant.
This bill also states that employers are not allowed to use any information from a criminal history record that has been granted limited access or expunged (unless using it is required by federal law).
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
