BILL NUMBER: AB 1934	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 8, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 18, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Corbett

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2002

    An act to add Section 7910 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telephone corporations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1934, as amended, Corbett.  Telephone corporations:  background
security checks.
   Existing law permits telephone corporations to construct, own,
control, operate and manage telephone lines and to provide telephone
service for compensation in the state, subject to regulation by the
Public Utilities Commission.
   This bill would  , with certain exceptions, 
require telephone corporations to perform  or have performed
 an investigation into the background of  certain 
applicants for employment  , certain employees, independent
contractors, and vendors  .   The bill would also
require that a background check be performed on certain persons hired
by a telephone corporation under a personal services contract,
independent contractors, and vendors.  The bill would provide that
the telephone corporation is not responsible for administering or
paying for the background checks of persons hired under a personal
services contract, independent contractors, and vendors. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 7910 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   7910.  (a) Telephone corporations shall perform background checks
of applicants for employment, according to current business
practices.
   (b) A background check equivalent to that described in subsection
(a) shall also be conducted on all of the following:
   (1) Persons hired by a telephone corporation under a personal
services contract.
   (2) Independent contractors and their employees.
   (3) Vendors and their employees.
   (c) Except as otherwise provided by contract, the telephone
corporation shall not be responsible for administering the background
checks and shall not  assure   assume  the
cost of the background checks of individuals who are not 
employees   applicants for employment  of the
telephone corporation.  
   (d) This section is inapplicable to persons that do not have
direct contact with or access to the telephone network, the telephone
corporation's central office, or customer premises.
   (e) This section shall not be applicable to temporary workers
 
   (d) (1) Subdivision (a) only applies to applicants for employment
for positions that would allow the applicant to have direct contact
with or access to the telephone network, the telephone corporation's
central office, or customer premises, and would require the applicant
to perform activities that involve the installation, service, or
repair of the telephone network or telephone equipment.
   (2) Subdivision (b) only applies to persons that have direct
contact with or access to the telephone network, the telephone
corporation's central office, or customer premises, and perform
activities that involve the installation, service, or repair of the
telephone network or telephone equipment.
   (e) This section does not apply to temporary workers 
performing emergency functions to restore the network of a telephone
corporation to its normal state in the event of a natural disaster or
an emergency that threatens or results in the loss of service.