By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-895448.mp3
LANSING, MI –
State House lawmakers are expected to vote next week on a bill that would prevent most employers from using credit scores of potential employees to make hiring decisions.
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The Michigan House approved a similar measure a couple years ago, but it stalled in the Republican-led state Senate.
Democratic state Representative Jon Switalski sponsored the bill this time around. He says an economic downturn, high unemployment rates and a housing crisis all increase the urgency of the measure.
"My hope is that it will pass again and be signed into law because many more people are being affected by this," he says.
The bill would not apply to employers who make hiring decisions for jobs where credit scores are part of the job qualification, such as jobs that deal with money.
That includes banks, accounting firms and casinos.