PreCheck’s Director of Compliance Vu Do and Director of Operations Dana Sangerhausen attended the background screening industry’s mid-year legislative conference in Arlington, Virginia, as well as visited Capitol Hill to speak with legislators on issues relevant to background screening.

Houston, Texas - April 25, 2013

PreCheck, Inc., a background screening and credentialing firm specializing in the healthcare industry and an active member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), recently participated in the association’s mid-year legislative conference in mid-April. Articulating their concerns and informing attendees of their enforcement efforts, the conference serves as a venue for the background screening industry’s regulators to address NAPBS members directly. This year marks the third time that PreCheck’s Director of Operations Dana Sangerhausen attended the advocacy event and the first time for the company’s Director of Compliance Vu Do. Between the two of them, they participated in meetings with the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, and the staff of Senator Cornyn and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Enforcement Guidance on employers’ use of conviction records was heavily discussed at the conference. It was clear from the concerns expressed by EEOC Commissioner Constance Barker and US Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow, both featured speakers, that employers struggle with adopting the best practices from the Guidance, and yet, the Commission is still very focused on employer compliance, despite the noted challenges. Further, Commissioner Barker informed attendees that similar guidance on the use of credit reports will soon follow. NAPBS and its membership continue to educate legislators on employers’ infrequent and job-necessitated use of credit reports, and it strives to dispel rumors that employment credit reports include credit scores. Credit scores are not considered in employment decisions because scores are not available in employment credit reports.

“Strong participation with NAPBS ensures that PreCheck and our clients not only are aware of potential threats and successes, but that we both have a voice,” states Dana Sangerhausen, Director of Operations at PreCheck, Inc. “We fully support and take advantage of opportunities to lobby for our clients on Capitol Hill.”

“As a member of NAPBS, we are mindful of how background screening regulations and policies affect our healthcare employers,” explains Vu Do, PreCheck’s Director of Compliance. “Since the release of the Guidance, we’ve been trying to understand if the EEOC will create an exception for healthcare employers when state laws regulating criminal history checks are in conflict with the EEOC Enforcement Guidance.  Unfortunately, at this time, we know of no such exception.”

One of the main objectives of the NAPBS legislative conference and Capitol Hill Day is to engage and provide education to policy makers and federal agencies. Along with other Capitol Hill Day participants, Ms. Do and Ms. Sangerhausen advanced key NAPBS positions in each of their meetings. With the information gleaned from the conference, PreCheck is committed to educating its clients about regulators' specific areas of focus to ensure those employers review their internal practices.