NEED FOR NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL HUMAN SERVICE EMPLOYEES

Addis Gabriel Woldeguiorguis has a multi-page driving record in the State of New York dating back to 1980. Mr. Woldeguiorguis also has a record of possession of drugs in 2005. On August 3, 2011 Mr. Woldeguioruis drove his van filled with 12 adults with special needs into a garbage truck in Newton. According to the Boston Globe, When police arrived at the scene they found a broken crack pipe, a plastic bag containing suspected crack cocaine, and other empty plastic bags in a green carrying bag found in the van.  According to the Globe,  Mr. Woldeguiorguis told police that he had taken two oxycodone pills four hours before the crash.
The one and only question is why was Mr. Woldeguiorguis driving the van on August 3rd, apparently under the influence of drugs, endangering the lives of 12 special needs people on their way to their job?
The answer is simple: Massachusetts law does not require a national background check for "contracted drivers". In other words Mr. Woldeguiorguis employer did the minimum required by law and checked his MA driving and MA Criminal Offender Record only.
According  WCVB TV Channel 5 Michael Burris was convicted in 1999 of having sex with a minor and was facing charges of illegal gun and drug possession. Mr. Burris served a year in prison and then violated his five year probation by leaving California and moving to Massachusetts.
Upon settling in MA he took a job as a van driver driving people with intellectual disabilities to day programs. Mr. Burris also failed to register as a sex-offender  in MA based on his CA conviction. Finally in 2005 the Massachusetts State Police arrested Burris for not registering as a sex-offender in MA.
Once again no national background check!!!
State regulations only requires agencies such as DDS to do CORI checks on new hires and the employees of DDS vendors in MA only. Our most vulnerable population is at risk. Many of the individuals under DDS care cannot speak or defend themselves from predators. A policy for national background checks is not the only answer to safety of our most vulnerable population but it is a step in the right direction.