California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law legislation that will subject Uber and Lyft drivers to tougher security screening but stops short of background screening that includes fingerprint-based checks as those mandated for cab companies.

 Assemblyman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Elk Grove, sponsored Assembly Bill 1289, which extends the time frame for driver background checks from seven years to infinity. Any crime committed when a would-be driver was 18 or older is subject to review.

"As a father of four daughters, I don’t want my children being picked up by a driver convicted of murder or rape,” the lawmaker said. "AB 1289 will uncover the complete criminal history of prospective drivers and would help ensure the safety of riders utilizing transportation network companies (TNCs)."

Cooper says he was inspired by the criminal pasts of 25 ride-hail drivers uncovered by district attorney's investigators in L.A. and San Francisco last year. Overlooked crimes included murder, assault and DUI.

But under his bill, Uber and Lyft will continue to allow drivers to identify themselves without the use of fingerprinting. Critics have said this could still allow imposters with records to get behind the wheel of ride-hail vehicles.

"I think it's important they have meaningful background checks," said John M. Simpson of nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog. "There's no doubt about that. It should be equitable with cab drivers."

Brown also signed legislation from Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) making it easier for potential drivers to work for the companies. The new law allows potential drivers to rent cars to work for Uber, Lyft and the other companies.

That effort, which has been part of expansion plans for Uber and Lyft, is currently allowed, but the industry’s regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission, was weighing whether to limit it. The new law ensures the rental practices will continue.

Brown also vetoed a bill from Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) to create a statewide taxi commission to level regulations between taxis and the looser rules surrounding ride-hailing companies.

In a veto message, Brown said the state shouldn't shoulder the responsibility of regulating the taxi industry.

“I do not believe that such a massive change is justified,” Brown wrote.

The new legislation comes as car companies are making massive investments in the ridehail industry.

This year, major carmakers took equity positions in companies that supposedly will put them out of business. Toyota invested in Uber, Volkswagen bought shares of Gett and BMW became a shareholder of carpool-platform Scoop. The feeding frenzy was kicked off months ago by GM, which became a shareholder of Lyft.

State governments across the country have been scrambling to figure out how to regulate an industry that has seemingly sprung up overnight.

Factor in major ridehail companies such as Didi Chuxing in Asia and Ola in South America and the equation becomes more complex.

Another development in the ridehail industry is the vision of autonomous vehicles being used for passengers.

Uber has been testing a small fleet of self-driving Ford Fusions in Pittsburgh since early September, but so far Uber has declined to discuss the progress. The cars are hard to miss: they have “Uber” stenciled on the sides and an array of cameras and sensors on the roof. There have been a couple of fender benders, and an instance of one vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street. No injuries have been reported involving any of Uber’s self-driving Ford Fusions.