BILL NUMBER: AB 128	CHAPTERED  08/26/99

	CHAPTER   229
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   AUGUST 26, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   AUGUST 25, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 16, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   JULY 15, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 1, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 6, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 1, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Granlund

                        JANUARY 6, 1999

   An act to amend Section 12517.3 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 128, Granlund.  Vehicles:  schoolbus, youth bus, and
paratransit vehicle driver certificates.
   (1) Existing law requires applicants for an original certificate
to drive a schoolbus, school pupil activity bus, youth bus, or
general public paratransit vehicle to be fingerprinted by the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, as specified, on a form
provided or approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles for
submission to the Department of Justice utilizing the Applicant
Expedite Service.
   Existing law also requires upon implementation of an electronic
fingerprinting program with terminals located statewide and managed
by the Department of Justice, that the Department of Justice provide
that information to the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

   This bill would allow these applicants to be fingerprinted by
utilizing an electronic fingerprinting system.  The bill would
provide that the applicants may also be fingerprinted by a public law
enforcement agency, a school district, or a county office of
education utilizing an electronic fingerprinting system with
terminals managed by the Department of Justice.
   (2) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 12517.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

   12517.3.  (a) (1) Applicants for an original certificate to drive
a schoolbus, school pupil activity bus, youth bus, or general public
paratransit vehicle shall be fingerprinted by the Department of the
California Highway Patrol, on a form provided or approved by the
Department of the California Highway Patrol for submission to the
Department of Justice, utilizing the Applicant Expedite Service or an
electronic fingerprinting system.
   (2) Applicant fingerprint forms shall be processed and returned to
the office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol from
which they originated not later than 15 working days from the date on
which the fingerprint forms were received by the Department of
Justice, unless circumstances, other than the administrative duties
of the Department of Justice, warrant further investigation.
   (3) Applicant fingerprints that are submitted by utilizing an
electronic fingerprinting system shall be processed and returned to
the appropriate office of the Department of the California Highway
Patrol within three working days.
   (b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an applicant for an
original certificate to drive a schoolbus, school pupil activity bus,
youth bus, or general public paratransit vehicle may be
fingerprinted by a public law enforcement agency, a school district,
or a county office of education utilizing an electronic
fingerprinting system with terminals managed by the Department of
Justice.
   (2) The Department of Justice shall provide the fingerprint
information processed pursuant to this subdivision to the appropriate
office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol within
three working days of receipt of the information.
   (3) Applicants for an original certificate to drive an ambulance
shall submit a completed fingerprint card to the department.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order that applicants for original certificates to drive
schoolbuses, school pupil activity buses, youth buses, and general
public transit vehicles can be effectively fingerprinted and
processed at the earliest possible time in order to help protect the
safety of passengers on these vehicles, it is necessary that this act
take effect immediately.