A bill working its way through the California Legislature would require the state Department of Social Services to conduct an investigation before it issues criminal clearances to people with arrest records seeking employment in thousands of state-licensed facilities. An investigation revealed that for three years, DSS was handing out criminal clearance letters before investigations were completed. These letters went to people who had been arrested, but not convicted of crimes including homicide, sexual assault and child abuse. Now, Assemblyman Brian Maienshein, R-San Diego, has proposed a bill that would make that policy permanent, requiring the state to investigate arrest records. “There is too much discretion and it allows for the absence of an investigation,” Maienshein said.
