Existing law requires any agency that employs peace officers to report certain information to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) and to complete investigations of any allegation of serious misconduct against an officer, regardless of that officer’s employment status. Existing law also establishes the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information between law enforcement agencies in California.
AB 354 requires POST employees or staff, including appointees, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors, whose job duties require access to criminal offender record information, state summary criminal history information, or information obtained from CLETS, to undergo fingerprint-based state and national criminal history background checks.
In addition, AB 354 authorizes POST and POST employees or staff for whom fingerprint-based background checks have been completed and whose duties require such access to inspect or duplicate any information derived from CLETS.
AB 354 also authorizes POST to inspect and duplicate any criminal history, criminal offender record, or criminal justice information, or any other sensitive, confidential, or privileged information if it determines that the information is needed in the course of its duties.
(AB 354 adds Section 15169 to the Government Code, and Amends Sections 13500, 13503.1, 13510.8, and 13510.9 of the Government Code.)