All resourcesState guide · LA
Louisiana background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Louisiana 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 LA.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector + state-licensure roles (Act 406) |
| Salary history | Public-employer ban (Act 491) |
| Cannabis testing | Medical only; limited employer protections |
Lookback period
Louisiana applies FCRA; expungements under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971 must be suppressed.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Act 406 of 2021 bars consideration of arrests not leading to conviction and old convictions unrelated to the position for state-licensing decisions.
Salary history
State-government employers may not inquire about salary history; no statewide private rule.
Cannabis & drug testing
La. R.S. §40:1046 authorizes medical use; no statewide off-duty protection.
Governing statutes & references
- Act 406 (2021)
- Act 491
- La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971
SafestHires compliance note
Sealed and expunged records under Art. 971 must be suppressed from employer reports.