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Bill Limiting Credit Checks By Employers Approved

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland employers will be limited in using a job applicant's credit history when making hiring decisions, under a measure that has passed the General Assembly.

A spokesman for Gov. Martin O'Malley said Wednesday the governor will sign the bill.

The legislation requires that an employer have a bona fide reason that is substantially job-related to request information in an applicant's credit report. Credit information could be sought for a job that involves a fiduciary responsibility to the employer.

Delegate Kirill Reznik, D-Montgomery, sponsored the bill in the House of Delegates. He says there are many understandable reasons why someone could have poor credit that have nothing to do with the ability to do a good job.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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