Charter-party carriers of passengers: permit requirements: drivers.

(1) The Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act, with certain exceptions, prohibits a charter-party carrier of passengers from engaging in transportation services subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission without obtaining a specified certificate or permit, as appropriate, from the commission, subject to various requirements. The act defines a charter-party carrier of passengers as every person engaged in the transportation of persons by motor vehicle for compensation, whether in common or contract carriage, over any public highway in this state and includes any person, corporation, or other entity engaged in the provision of a hired driver service when a rented motor vehicle is being operated by a hired driver. This bill would prohibit the commission from issuing or renewing a permit or certificate to a charter-party carrier of passengers unless the applicant, in addition to existing requirements, participates in the Department of Motor Vehicles pull-notice system and provides for mandatory Department of Justice background checks of every driver, except as specified, who is either employed by or under contract to the applicant. The bill would require a driver of a charter-party carrier to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and content of state convictions and state arrests, as specified. The bill would require the department to charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the request described in these provisions. The bill would provide that its provisions apply to all charter-party carriers regardless of class or category created by the commission. The bill would require that drivers hired or initially retained on or after January 1, 2015, be subject to background checks and mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to employment or retention and that drivers hired or initially retained before January 1, 2015, complete a background check and drug and alcohol test before January 1, 2016. (2) Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.