Signed by Governor Martin O'Malley

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits an employer from requesting an applicant or employee's log-in information in order to access a personal account through an electronic communications device, beginning October 1, 2012.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to disclose any username, password, or other means for accessing a personal account or service through an electronic communications device (Sec. 1).

• Defines an “electronic communications device” as any device that uses electronic signals to create, transmit, and receive information (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an employer to require an employee to disclose any username, password, or other means for accessing non-personal accounts or services that provide access to the employer’s internal computer or information systems (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits an employer from penalizing an employee or refusing to hire an applicant on the basis of their refusal to release information which they are authorized to keep private under the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits an employee from downloading unauthorized employer proprietary information or financial data to an employee’s personal website, an Internet website, a web-based account, or similar account (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an employer to conduct an investigation to ensure that an employee is in compliance with applicable securities, financial law, or regulatory requirements if information is received that that employee is using a personal website, an Internet website, a web-based account, or similar account for business purposes (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an employer to conduct an investigation of an employee’s actions if information is received that that employee conducted an unauthorized download of his or her employer’s proprietary information or financial data to a personal website, an internet website, a web-based account, or similar account (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text