The Nation - News from June 28, 1988

Legislation strictly limiting the use of lie detector tests by private employers was signed into law by President Reagan without fanfare. Reagan made no statement on the legislation, and his decision to approve the bill was contained in a terse White House bill-signing announcement. Congress had approved the legislation to protect job-seekers from inappropriate use of polygraph exams by companies. The bill prohibits an employee from being discharged, dismissed, disciplined, discriminated against or denied employment or promotion solely on the basis of the test. The legislation prohibits most private-sector employers from requiring their workers or job applicants to take lie detector tests.