Maine Employment Law Update — May 2019

Protecting Job Applicants from Identity Theft

On April 22, 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed legislation (H.P. 229) to protect job applicants from identity theft. Beginning January 1, 2020, an employer may not request a Social Security number from a prospective employee on an employment application or during the application process except for substance abuse testing or a preemployment background check. However, this prohibition does not apply to an employer’s request for a Social Security number after the employee has been hired.

The law is effective September 18, 2019.

Read ME H.P. 299