HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A new state auditor’s report criticizes the Department of Motor Vehicles for not verifying employees’ criminal records, detecting whether employees are tampering with DMV records, or preventing fraud in driver’s license renewals.

But the 33-page report, released Thursday and requested by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in November, identifies many of the steps DMV has taken in recent months to tighten rules and procedures surrounding driver’s licenses and identity cards.

It comes in the wake of a scandal involving former DMV workers who allegedly sold fake Connecticut driver’s licenses for as much as $3,500 to illegal immigrants and took payoffs for stealing the identities of legitimate license holders.

“It’s exactly what we expected and it’s exactly what we asked for,” said Rell, referring to the audit. “It also gives us a roadmap for improvement.”

Since the licensing scandal arose, Rell has imposed several changes at the DMV, including a new commissioner, Ralph Carpenter.

In their report, the state’s Republican and Democrat auditors recommend that DMV seek legislation to obtain fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for DMV employees. Also, they recommend that DMV conduct background checks of DMV contractors, such as the Automobile Club of Hartford, who provide driver’s license renewal services.

The auditors determined that most DMV employees are not trained on the potential temptations of committing fraud and the resulting penalties.

“Since the nature of issuing and renewing identity cards and drivers’ licenses/learner’s permits results in access to cash and confidential information, the moral character of DMV’s employees and contractors is critical,” the report reads.

Currently, DMV screens its job applicants based on their driving history and a national criminal background check based only on the individual’s name and date of birth.

Calls were left seeking comment with DMV officials. But according to the agency’s response, included in the audit report, DMV is supporting legislation that would require each person offered employment at DMV to be fingerprinted and submit to state and national criminal history checks.

DMV has also created a new units to better train workers to detect fraud, including fraudulent documents, and report any problems anonymously, using a new whistleblower hotline. New standards and training are also planned for workers at AAA.

Democrat State Auditor Kevin Johnston said he believes the agency is taking steps to improve its licensing operations.

“There were serious issues over there. They are being addressed from a number of different perspectives,” he said. “Hopefully as time goes on, they will have made the changes necessary, in an effective way and improvements will be made.”

Among other recommendations, the auditors suggest DMV comply with state statutes and ensure that individuals who operate school buses and other passenger vehicles in the state “have an acceptable moral character and criminal history.”

The DMV, according to the auditors, has been allowing individuals with out-of-state licenses to operate passenger and school vehicles before completing the applicant’s criminal background check.

According to DMV, the agency checked with neighboring states and confirmed that background checks were conducted there for those individuals who drive school buses. DMV regulations place the onus on the bus companies to monitor workers’ criminal records.