On January 19, U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced H.R. 321, the “Equal Employment for All Act,” which would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to restrict employers from using consumer credit reports to make adverse employment decisions (e.g., hiring, promotion, termination) regarding prospective or current employees.  The Act contains exceptions for, among other scenarios, positions that require national security clearances and managerial positions at financial institutions. 

H.R. 321 is the first federal legislation to restrict employers’ use of employee credit reports, but there has already been considerable activity at the state level.  Four states – Hawaii, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington – already have laws restricting employer use of employee credit reports, and 13 more states are considering legislation that would impose similar restrictions.

We will continue to monitor federal and state developments in this area and keep you posted as these bills make their way through the legislative process.   

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Photo of Mike Nonaka Mike Nonaka

Michael Nonaka is co-chair of the Financial Services Group and advises banks, financial services providers, fintech companies, and commercial companies on a broad range of compliance, enforcement, transactional, and legislative matters.

He specializes in providing advice relating to federal and state licensing and…

Michael Nonaka is co-chair of the Financial Services Group and advises banks, financial services providers, fintech companies, and commercial companies on a broad range of compliance, enforcement, transactional, and legislative matters.

He specializes in providing advice relating to federal and state licensing and applications matters for banks and other financial institutions, the development of partnerships and platforms to provide innovative financial products and services, and a broad range of compliance areas such as anti-money laundering, financial privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer protection. He also works closely with banks and their directors and senior leadership teams on sensitive supervisory and strategic matters.

Mike plays an active role in the firm’s Fintech Initiative and works with a number of banks, lending companies, money transmitters, payments firms, technology companies, and service providers on innovative technologies such as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, blockchain, big data, cloud computing, same day payments, and online lending. He has assisted numerous banks and fintech companies with the launch of innovative deposit and loan products, technology services, and cryptocurrency-related products and services.

Mike has advised a number of clients on compliance with TILA, ECOA, TISA, HMDA, FCRA, EFTA, GLBA, FDCPA, CRA, BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, FTC Act, Reg. K, Reg. O, Reg. W, Reg. Y, state money transmitter laws, state licensed lender laws, state unclaimed property laws, state prepaid access laws, and other federal and state laws and regulations.