Truck driver medical certification and background checks are getting scrutiny in the California legislature
following more revelations about the truck driver who died when he crashed his rig into the California state Capitol building earlier this month.
Officials discovered that Michael Bowers, who has a history of criminal convictions and mental illness, got his medical card from a chiropractor. This is legal under federal law, which allows certification by physician's assistants, advanced practical nurses or chiropractors in addition to MD's.
State Assemblyman Dean Florez of Shafter proposed legislation last week that would require truck drivers to be medically certified by licensed doctors, according to the Associated Press. "We're not sure a chiropractor is the best person to make an evaluation on the mental capability of a driver," he told the AP.
The bill also would address background checks and driver drug and alcohol testing. Bowers had worked for Salt Lake City-based Dick Simon Trucking for eight days before the crash. The company did do a background check, but it covered only the last five years. Most of Bowers' convictions happened before that time.
Under Florez' bill, companies that don't do adequate background checks or fail to provide background information to other employers could have their California business licenses suspended or revoked.
The bill also would set up a registry to track drivers who have tested positive for using drugs or alcohol. Currently, drivers can lie about their previous employment to hide positive drug tests that otherwise would show up on a background report.