Arizona background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Arizona pre-employment background screening: lookback caps, ban-the-box scope, salary-history limits, cannabis testing rules, and the statutes the SafestHires compliance team applies on every order routed to AZ.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector (Executive Order 2017-07) |
| Salary history | No restriction |
| Cannabis testing | Medical + recreational; AMMA off-duty protections |
Lookback period
Arizona reports follow the FCRA seven-year cap for non-convictions; convictions can be reported indefinitely.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Governor Ducey's 2017 executive order removed the conviction question from initial state-agency applications. There is no private-employer requirement statewide.
Salary history
No statewide salary-history ban.
Cannabis & drug testing
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (ARS §36-2813) protects registered patients from discrimination unless impairment is shown at work. Prop 207 (2020) legalized recreational use but preserved employer drug-free workplace rights.
Governing statutes & references
- ARS §36-2813 (AMMA)
- ARS §13-905 (set-aside)
- Exec. Order 2017-07
SafestHires compliance note
Set-aside is not expungement — disclose carefully and respect AMMA registered-patient status.