Employers in Minnesota are permitted or required to conduct criminal record checks in accordance with these rules.
Effective January 1, 2014, employers are prohibited from asking a job applicant about criminal records or conducting a criminal background check unless the applicant has been selected for an interview or a conditional offer of employment has been extended.
School hiring authorities must require criminal background checks on all persons who are offered employment in their schools. If a background check was performed by another school within the past 12 months, the results are on file with the other school or otherwise easily accessible, the applicant gives written permission to use the earlier background check results and there is no reason to believe the applicant has committed a disqualifying act since the background check was made, a school may use the earlier record check.
Criminal background checks are not required for persons who are hold initial entrance licenses issued within the previous 12 months by the state board of teaching or education.
Schools are permitted to run checks on volunteers, independent contractors and student employees.
Before hiring an apartment manager, an owner must request the superintendent to conduct a background check to determine whether the manager is the subject of a reported conviction for a background check crime. An owner may request a background check for a currently employed manager.