Advanced Reporting

Advanced Reporting will be unavailable starting this Friday, May 18 at 6:00pm PDT/9:00pm EDT for a scheduled upgrade to our simple, powerful screening platform.  We expect this infrastructure upgrade to last approximately 12-13 hours and plan to have the system back online by Saturday, May 19 at 7:00am PDT/10:00am EDT allowing normal operations throughout the remainder of the weekend.  Thank you for understanding and we hope you take this opportunity to enjoy your Friday night.

Please feel free to call or email if you have any questions or concerns!

Click HERE to register for the Metro Multifamily Housing Association mid-Willamette Valley Forms & Notices class and networking evening scheduled for May 23, 2012 from 2:00pm to 5:00p at the Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry located in downtown Salem at 626 High St NE, Salem, OR 97301.  This class will overview the most commonly used rental forms to successfully begin new tenancies.  This course will also detail the violation and termination forms used to enforce the rules of the lease such as non-payment of rent and unlawful pets.  Learn to take advantage and benefit from the Oregon landlord/tenant law statutes!

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC” or “Commission”) issued revised guidance on April 25, 2012 on the use of criminal history records.  This is important guidance which will affect how end-users use criminal records reports for employment screening purposes.  The new guidance was approved by the Commission by a vote of 4 – 1.

The guidance and EEOC press release can be found online as well as Q&As posted on the Commission’s website.

One change from past practices may be that the guidance will require employers who use criminal reports for employment screening purposes to take additional steps, such as the use of validation studies, decision matrices and individualized assessments. Experts analyzing the guidance also have pointed out that there appears to be a conflict between Title VII and the use of state and local criminal exclusions for employment purposes.

For more resources on this guidance and how it may effect your screening program please contact your Advanced Reporting team.

On the back of reports by consumer advocacy groups, the Associated Press has published several articles recently that are critical of the background screening industry.  The most recent article  Job hunters being hurt by shoddy background checks, consumer advocated conclude in report was published Wednesday, April 11, 2012 and refers to a report the National Consumer Law Center is releasing today that claims to be the first in-depth survey of consumer abuse by companies selling inaccurate or incomplete consumer reports.  This dialog is elevating the issue to a national level with many state and federal regulatory bodies focusing on increasing consumer protection related to the preparation and use of consumer reports. 

The adverse impacts that the AP and NCLC have been focusing on are almost exclusively the result of End-Users and Consumer Reporting Agencies(CRAs) who don’t understand and/or choose to adhere to existing regulations and best practices for the preparation and use of consumer reports.   Background screening is critical component of your organization’s risk management program and over regulation could pose a real risk to you if the type of information you have access to is rigidly restricted without regard for the unique risks you face.  By choosing a reputable, responsible CRA who provides you with comprehensive information in a compliant manner you send the message to our regulators that additional enforcement actions are not required.

If you have any questions about the information you are receiving or about your obligations as an End-User of consumer reports contact your knowledgible team at Advanced Reporting.  Advanced Reporting is proud to be a member of the National Association of Profession Background Screeners (NAPBS) and to have our full team of investigators achieve the NAPBS FCRA Basic Certification.

If your drug testing program doesn’t include a test for abuse of prescription pain killers Chris Hawley’s AP article Painkiller sales soar around US, fuel addiction from April 5, 2012 may convince you that it’s time.  Call your Advanced Reporting team today to find out more about your drug screening options.

Today Volunteers and Employees in human service and education positions in Oregon must navigate a costly, inconsistent, slow and often redundant background screening system. On February 27, 2012 the Oregon House passed legislation to help create a unified and efficient system for criminal background checks in Oregon. HB 4091 will address redundant processes and requirements and clearance incompatibilities between state agencies, and aims to improve the thoroughness of some requirements.

The bill now moves to the Oregon Senate for consideration.

On Jan. 26, 2012, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) division of the US Dept. of Health & Human Services recommended that four Schedule II prescription medications (oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and hydromorphone) be added to the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing.

If you’re thinking about choosing or updating your drug testing panel give us a call today.

We have been advised that all courts in NJ will be closed on Monday, February 13 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday. We have also been advised that some county courts in IL, including Cook, Lake and McDonough, will be closed as well. We will provide additional updates as we receive them.

We are also expecting that most courts will be closed on Monday, February 20 in observance of Presidents’ Day. Advanced Reporting will open both days and operating under our normal business hours.

Advanced Reporting is sporting a new look for 2012 and we would love to hear what you think.  As one of the oldest subsidiaries of Maps Credit Union we are proud to unify our brand with Maps and our sister companies.  While we may look different on the outside we have the same experienced team of screening professionals working to bring you the comprehensive, cost-effective and compliant screening solutions you rely on.

Three new ways to protect your identity in 2012.  Check out this new article on Forbes.com and see what you can do to protect yourself throughout the coming year.