What is EPPA?
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act. This is a federal law enacted in 1988 that established guidelines for polygraph testing and imposed restriction on most private employers. EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph testing to screen applicants for employment. It does not affect public employers such as police agencies or other governmental institutions.
On December 27 of 1988 the Act went into effect establishing guidelines for polygraph testing across the nation. The law imposed tight restriction on most private businesses with regards to testing their employees. Some commercial businesses were given exemptions under the EPPA law, and it did not effect or restrict Local, State and Federal governmental agencies (such as police departments, school systems and correctional institutions) from using the polygraph. The following types of businesses were also given limited exemptions under the act with regard to pre employment screening. • Nuclear or Electrical Power Plants • Toxic Waste Disposal • Companies which manufacturer, distribute or dispense controlled substances • Armored Car or Alarm and Security Companies • Companies under contract with the federal government • Nuclear or Electrical Power Plants • Public Water Works All other businesses and commercial companies can request that a current employee take a polygraph examination whe
