CA AB612

Requires charter-party carriers of passengers to participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles pull-notice system to regularly monitor driving records of all employed and contracted drivers.

Mandates Department of Justice criminal background checks for all drivers employed by or contracted to charter-party carriers, with fingerprint submission required to check state convictions and arrests.

Denies employment to drivers convicted within seven years of felonies involving sexual offenses, drug manufacturing or distribution, violence, kidnapping, theft-related crimes, firearm possession, or obstruction of peace officers.

Requires drivers hired or initially retained on or after January 1, 2015, to complete background checks and drug and alcohol testing before employment; drivers hired before that date must complete testing by January 1, 2016.

Exempts drivers undergoing criminal background checks required by Education Code Section 33192 (school transportation) from duplicate background check requirements while employed by the same employer.