[May 3, 2012] Beginning May 4, 2012, new requirements will go into effect for employers that conduct criminal background checks on applicants – requirements that were enacted as part of the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information Reform Law of 2010 (the “CORI Reform Law”).
The major provisions of the CORI Reform Law that take effect on May 4 require certain employers to follow certain procedural safeguards and have a CORI policy, as summarized below. Currently, there is no regulatory guidance on these requirements, but the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (“DCJIS”) in Massachusetts is expected to issue final regulations in the near future detailing and implementing these requirements.
Note: A separate portion of the Massachusetts CORI Reform Law, prohibiting most employers from including questions about criminal history on their initial job application forms, previously went into effect in November 2010. Read More