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Vance Introduces First Piece of Senate Legislation
HARRISBURG -- Sen.
Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland/York) today introduced legislation granting
immunity to employers who respond to prospective employers for reference
information on current or former employees.
Currently Pennsylvania is one
of 14 states that do not provide statutory protection for employers who respond
to reference requests.
“Protecting those who are
vulnerable to abuse or crime is one of my priorities,” Vance said. “That is why
I chose this important piece of legislation as my first to author in the Senate.
The issue of reference checking by prospective employers came under scrutiny
last year after a male nurse pleaded guilty to murder patients at a number of
facilities over a 10-year time period.
“The lack of immunity has a
chilling effect on employers to provide any information, other than verification
of dates of employment and job title, for fear of lawsuit,” Vance added. “This
allowed the nurse to move from facility to facility continuing his crimes. In
addition, without exchange of information, it is difficult for employers to make
intelligent hiring decisions.”
Vance first introduced this
bill last year while a member of the House. Senate Bill 69 protects employers
from civil liability including defamation and interference with contract or
prospective contract. It does not interfere with an employee’s ability to file
suit against an employer for intentionally disclosing false information and
acting out of ill-will.
Vance’s district includes all of Cumberland
County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and Washington
townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York County.
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