Missouri governor says no to database of job applicants’ comp-claim histories

Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) on July 2 vetoed a bill that would have created a database for employers to access a job applicant’s history of filing workers’ compensation claims.

SB 34 would have required the state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation to develop and maintain a searchable database with the date and status of claims, and provide employers with access through its website.

In his veto message, Nixon called the legislation “an affront to the privacy of our citizens” and said it would have caused employers to unintentionally violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Employers legally may ask about workers’ comp history after extending a conditional job offer, but the Missouri bill would have allowed “pre-hire” checks without such an offer, which Nixon said conflicts with federal law.