Prince George’s County, MD Amends Criminal Background Check Law
The Prince George’s, Maryland County Council recently enacted Bill CB-019-2024, amending the county's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards. Effective September 16, 2024, the ordinance—renamed “Access to Employment for Returning Citizens” —significantly restricts employers' ability to conduct criminal background checks on job applicants . Changes to the law include a smaller threshold for employer coverage, expanded limitations on employer inquiries into applicant criminal histories, and expanded protections for employees. Employer Coverage Threshold The ordinance now applies to employers with 10 or more full-time employees in the county, a reduction from the previous threshold of 25 employees. Expanded Limitations on Employer Inquiries of Applicant Criminal History Under the amended ordinance, covered employers are prohibited from asking about or investigating a job applicant’s criminal history until after the initial interview. Even after the initial interview, employer...