PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Protect Job Applicants from Identity Theft
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §598-A  is enacted to read:
§ 598-A. Prospective employee's social security number
An employer may not request a social security number from a prospective employee on an employment application or during the application process for employment except for the purposes of substance abuse testing under subchapter 3-A or a preemployment background check. This section does not apply to an employer's request for a social security number after the employee has been hired.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits the request of a social security number from a prospective employee by an employer on an employment application or during the application process. Under this bill, an employer may still request a social security number from a prospective employee for purposes of a substance abuse test or preemployment background check, and an employer is not prohibited from asking for a social security number from an individual for any reason after the individual has been hired.