Highlights from the PBSA
mid-year legislative conference 2021

Highlights from the PBSA mid-year legislative conference 2021

PBSA conferences are always filled with knowledgeable speakers and timely information sessions. The mid-year sessions are normally held in Washington, DC and include opportunities to lobby Congressional leaders regarding legislation that is important to the background screening industry. Unfortunately, as the pandemic continues throughout the US, the 2021 PBSA mid-year conference was held virtually and did not include any opportunities to speak with legislators. Instead, the two-day conference was loaded with sessions dedicated to industry topics such as sales and marketing strategies in a changing economic landscape, regulatory compliance updates for a new presidential administration, and the growing importance of procedural documentation. With new CFPB and FTC leadership, regulatory agencies will be more likely to advocate for consumer protections and tighter restrictions on background screening.

Forecasting trends in the employment background check industry, several speakers noted that social media searches and continuous monitoring will be important products that consumer reporting agencies may choose to offer to clients. Risks and rewards for adding these products must be carefully weighed, but reputational searches seem to be the “next big thing”.

On the tenant screening side, due to Covid19, eviction moratoriums remain in place for many jurisdictions. Even when lifted, these moratoriums may impact the reporting guidelines that govern eviction reports. Caution is needed when reporting potential adverse information on applicants with possible eviction records. Also, litigation trends forecast for the near future are increasing.

Lastly, while the federal credit reporting act (FCRA) continues to be the bible for background screeners, individual states, cities, and municipalities are adding consumer protection statutes that must also be followed. This patchwork of laws across a wide landscape of population adds regulatory difficulties for consumer reporting agencies.

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