In addition to the salary history legislation passed this year, the Maine legislature tackled the topic of identity theft.
LD 305, also known as “An Act To Protect Job Applicants from Identity Theft”, prohibits employers from requesting a Social Security Number (SSN) from a prospective employee on an employment application or during the application process. The prohibition on collection starts January 1, 2020.Thankfully, the Maine legislature recognized the impact this law could have on pre-employment screening. Thus, there are exemptions to the law if collecting the SSN for the purpose of a background check or substance abuse testing. The law also does not apply to employer requests for SSNs after the employee is hired.