CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1339Introduced by Assembly Member CunninghamFebruary 17, 2017 An act to amend Section 1031.1 of, and to add Section 1031.05 to, the Government Code, relating to public employment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1339, as introduced, Cunningham. Public employment: background investigations.The California Constitution provides for a right to privacy, and existing statutory law provides certain privacy protections for employment records. Existing law provides that a peace officer must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Existing law requires, an employer to disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a peace officer position, and who is not currently employed as a peace officer, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if certain conditions are met. This bill would require that all applicants for employment within a law enforcement agency be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. The bill would extend those employer disclosure requirements to information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a position with a law enforcement agency.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1031.05 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 1031, to read:1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.SEC. 2. Section 1031.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1339Introduced by Assembly Member CunninghamFebruary 17, 2017 An act to amend Section 1031.1 of, and to add Section 1031.05 to, the Government Code, relating to public employment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1339, as introduced, Cunningham. Public employment: background investigations.The California Constitution provides for a right to privacy, and existing statutory law provides certain privacy protections for employment records. Existing law provides that a peace officer must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Existing law requires, an employer to disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a peace officer position, and who is not currently employed as a peace officer, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if certain conditions are met. This bill would require that all applicants for employment within a law enforcement agency be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. The bill would extend those employer disclosure requirements to information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a position with a law enforcement agency.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 1339
Introduced by Assembly Member CunninghamFebruary 17, 2017
Introduced by Assembly Member Cunningham
February 17, 2017
An act to amend Section 1031.1 of, and to add Section 1031.05 to, the Government Code, relating to public employment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1339, as introduced, Cunningham. Public employment: background investigations.
The California Constitution provides for a right to privacy, and existing statutory law provides certain privacy protections for employment records. Existing law provides that a peace officer must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Existing law requires, an employer to disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a peace officer position, and who is not currently employed as a peace officer, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if certain conditions are met. This bill would require that all applicants for employment within a law enforcement agency be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. The bill would extend those employer disclosure requirements to information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a position with a law enforcement agency.
The California Constitution provides for a right to privacy, and existing statutory law provides certain privacy protections for employment records. Existing law provides that a peace officer must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Existing law requires, an employer to disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a peace officer position, and who is not currently employed as a peace officer, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if certain conditions are met.
This bill would require that all applicants for employment within a law enforcement agency be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. The bill would extend those employer disclosure requirements to information relating to a current or former employee who is an applicant for a position with a law enforcement agency.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1031.05 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 1031, to read:1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.SEC. 2. Section 1031.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1031.05 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 1031, to read:1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
SECTION 1. Section 1031.05 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 1031, to read:
### SECTION 1.
1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
1031.05. Each person who is employed by a law enforcement agency shall be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
SEC. 2. Section 1031.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
SEC. 2. Section 1031.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:
### SEC. 2.
1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:(1) The request is made in writing.(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.
1031.1. (a) For purposes of performing a thorough background investigation for applicants not currently employed as a peace officer, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 1031, or by a law enforcement agency, as required by Section 1031.05, an employer shall disclose employment information relating to a current or former employee, upon request of a law enforcement agency, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The request is made in writing.
(2) The request is accompanied by a notarized authorization by the applicant releasing the employer of liability.
(3) The request and the authorization are presented to the employer by a sworn officer or other authorized representative of the employing law enforcement agency.
(b) In the absence of fraud or malice, no employer shall be subject to any civil liability for any relevant cause of action by virtue of releasing employment information required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section is intended to, nor does in any way or manner, abrogate or lessen the existing common law or statutory privileges and immunities of an employer.
(c) For purposes of this section, employment information includes written information in connection with job applications, performance evaluations, attendance records, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, and other information relevant to peace officer performance, except information prohibited from disclosure by any other state or federal law or regulation.
(d) An employers refusal to disclose information to a law enforcement agency in accordance with this section shall constitute grounds for a civil action for injunctive relief requiring disclosure on the part of an employer.
(e) Employment information disclosed by an employer to an initial requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed confidential. However, the initial requesting law enforcement agency may disclose this information to another authorized law enforcement agency that is also conducting a peace officer background investigation. Whenever this information is disclosed to another law enforcement agency, that agency shall utilize the information for investigative leads only and the information shall be independently verified by that agency in order to be used in determining the suitability of a peace officer applicant.
(f) An employer may charge reasonable fees to cover actual costs incurred in copying and furnishing documents to law enforcement agencies as required by this section.