Tougher Background Checks For Ride-Share Drivers Proposed

SAN FRANCISCO – A proposal to strengthen background checks for ride-share drivers was released Friday by the California Public Utilities Commission, CPUC officials said.

The proposal sets forth three enhancements.

First, it requires that the background check companies that ride-sharing companies use to check the backgrounds of their drivers be accredited by the Background Screening Credentialing Council of the National
Association of Professional Background Screeners.

Second, each ride-sharing company must get proof that their background screening company is accredited and provide that to the CPUC.

Third, a background screening for each driver must be done at least once a year for as long as the driver is driving for a ride-share company and each ride-sharing company must prove to the CPUC that it is
screening its drivers each year.

The proposal fails to require a ride-sharing company to conduct a biometric background check on its drivers, which would include among other things fingerprints and documentation of other personal traits.

Commission officials said requiring a biometric check would not improve safety beyond the current safety requirements.

The newly proposed requirements would augment three, which are already in place.

Those include a requirement that a ride-sharing company or another company working on behalf of a ride-sharing company conduct a search of a multi-state or multi-jurisdictional criminal records database or similar
database as well as a search of the U.S. Department of Justice's National Sex Offender public website.

A ride-sharing company may not employ, contract with or retain a driver on the National Sex Offender website or among other offenses, who has been convicted of a violent felony.

A ride-sharing company cannot employ, contract with or retain a driver who was convicted of among other offenses, misdemeanor assault or battery, a domestic violence offense, driving under the influence of drugs or
alcohol, and a felony violation of the Elections Code.

The earliest the CPUC board would vote on the proposal is Nov. 9. Residents can read a copy of the proposal at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/SearchRes.aspx?docformat=ALL&docid=196478351.

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