Updated October 23, 2026
If your nonprofit, church, youth sports league, or community organization fingerprints employees and volunteers through the California Department of Justice, a major change is underway. The DOJ has launched the California Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (CalVECHS) and organizations that currently fingerprint under Penal Code section 11105.3 must enroll before January 1, 2027 to keep submitting Live Scans and receiving background check results.
Here’s the part most organizations don’t realize: until you enroll, your “FBI check” may not be showing you everything.
The 30-second version: CalVECHS is the DOJ’s new program for organizations serving children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. If your organization fingerprints under Penal Code 11105.3 — including most AB 506 organizations — you must enroll by January 1, 2027 to keep submitting Live Scans. Enrolling also unlocks complete federal (FBI) results. Call (916) 829-0350 to schedule group fingerprinting.
What Is CalVECHS?
CalVECHS stands for the California Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service. It’s a new California DOJ program that allows qualified entities, organizations serving children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, to receive both state and federal criminal offender record information (CORI) on their current and prospective employees and volunteers.
The program is authorized under California Penal Code section 11105.3 and the federal National Child Protection Act, as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act: the federal carve-out that lets organizations protecting vulnerable populations receive FBI-level background check results they’d otherwise be barred from seeing. The final CalVECHS regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on April 3, 2026 and took effect on July 1, 2026.
The Big Change: You’ll Finally See Out-of-State Records
Today, when a non-governmental organization submits a Live Scan with the federal level of service, the DOJ returns what it calls a “sanitized” federal response. That response confirms the FBI ran your applicant’s federal background check, but it does not include out-of-state criminal records, even if they exist.
In plain terms: a volunteer with a disqualifying conviction in Nevada or Texas could come back looking “clear” on the response to your organization.
Under CalVECHS, that changes. Participating agencies receive a non-sanitized federal response, including arrest and disposition information, delivered the same way your state results arrive today.
Who Must Enroll — and Who Doesn’t Qualify
A CalVECHS qualified entity is any business or organization (public, private, for-profit, nonprofit, or voluntary) that provides services, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities.
If your organization is already authorized to fingerprint under Penal Code section 11105.3, which includes most youth service organizations complying with AB 506, along with human resource agencies, enrollment is not optional. The DOJ requires these agencies to be enrolled in CalVECHS by the end of 2026 in order to continue submitting applicant fingerprints and receiving state and federal results. The DOJ’s Information Bulletin sets the sign-up deadline at January 1, 2027.
Just as important is who CalVECHS is not for. Organizations that fingerprint under a different statute — including city and county government agencies, licensed daycare centers, public and private schools, school contractors, and skilled nursing facilities — are not currently eligible for CalVECHS and should continue following the screening requirements that specifically apply to them.
Not sure which category your organization falls into? Confirm with the California Department of Justice.
How to Enroll in CalVECHS: Step by Step
Enrollment runs through the DOJ’s Applicant Agency Justice Connection (AAJC) Portal. Agencies that are already authorized submit a CalVECHS Enrollment request from the Requests page, with a submission package that includes:
- Authorized Recipient User Agreement (BCIA 9005)
- CalVECHS User Agreement (BCIA 9017) — the contract between your organization and the DOJ
- California Contract for Subsequent Arrest Notification Service (BCIA 8049)
- Federal Contract for Subsequent Arrest Notification Service (BCIA 8050)
- A copy of your nonprofit status or business license, which DOJ Information Bulletin 25-04-CJIS lists as a required part of the submission
Previously authorized doesn’t mean pre-enrolled — even long-established agencies must submit the CalVECHS User Agreement. If your organization has never registered with the DOJ, your first step begins with obtaining an ORI.
After You Enroll: What Changes Day to Day
- New forms and applicant types. Applicants use the CalVECHS-specific Request for Live Scan Service form (BCIA 8016VECHS), submitted under one of two applicant types assigned to your organization: VECHS/EMPLOYEE 11105.3 PC or VECHS/VOLUNTEER 11105.3 PC.
- Annual waivers. Every employee and volunteer fingerprinted under the VECHS applicant types signs a CalVECHS Waiver Agreement (BCIA 9018). See the waiver section below.
- Full federal responses. Applicants printed under the VECHS applicant types return complete, non-sanitized federal results — the out-of-state visibility described above.
The CalVECHS Waiver (BCIA 9018)
The CalVECHS Waiver Agreement (BCIA 9018) establishes your organization’s authority to receive an applicant’s criminal history results, including federal results it otherwise couldn’t see. It also tells the applicant they have the right to obtain and challenge their record.
- Who signs: every current and prospective employee and volunteer fingerprinted under the VECHS applicant types.
- When: before fingerprinting, then every year.
- How: the form supports e-signature. You can pick one annual refresh date for everyone instead of tracking each person’s signing date.
- Where it goes: your organization keeps the signed form on file. DOJ and the FBI can ask to see it during an audit.
- How long to keep it: at least three years, or until DOJ completes a successful compliance audit of your organization.
- Privacy: signed waivers contain personal information, so limit who can see them.
Download the CalVECHS Waiver Agreement (BCIA 9018) from DOJ.
Federal Rap Back: Alerts for Out-of-State Arrests
A federal background check shows an applicant’s out-of-state record as of the day they’re fingerprinted. The FBI’s Rap Back Service goes further: it notifies your organization of later out-of-state arrests and case dispositions.
DOJ opened Federal Rap Back to all applicant agencies in December 2025. Its bulletin points youth organizations to the CalVECHS bulletin (IB 25-04) to set up both CalVECHS and Rap Back. The CalVECHS enrollment package already includes the federal Rap Back contract (BCIA 8050).
- Cost: included in the federal fingerprint fee for subscribed applicants.
- Who’s covered: applicants fingerprinted after your organization subscribes. Earlier applicants aren’t covered unless they’re fingerprinted again. DOJ says it will announce more about previously printed applicants later.
- Timing: DOJ sends Rap Back requests to the FBI for approval, which may take several months.
- Renewal: each applicant’s subscription is renewed in the AAJC Portal every five years.
Not sure whether your organization is subscribed? Ask DOJ’s Authorization & Certification Program at TASS@doj.ca.gov.
What CalVECHS Costs
There is no additional fee to participate in CalVECHS. Standard state and federal fingerprint processing fees still apply, but they’re reduced for nonprofits: for nonprofit youth organizations and human resource agencies, the DOJ’s state processing fee is $0 and the federal (FBI) processing fee is $15, according to the DOJ’s CalVECHS FAQ. To get the $0 state fee, DOJ requires a copy of your IRS determination letter showing 501(c)(3) status, submitted with your CalVECHS enrollment. Your Live Scan provider’s rolling fee is separate.
How CalVECHS Fits With AB 506
AB 506 defines what youth service organizations must do: fingerprint-based background checks, mandated reporter training, and written child-protection policies. CalVECHS now governs how the fingerprinting piece works for qualified entities — it’s the enrollment pathway for submitting Live Scans under Penal Code 11105.3, and the mechanism that finally delivers complete federal results.
Working through AB 506 compliance? Start with our AB 506 Compliance Checklist, then put CalVECHS enrollment next on the list.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait
The deadline is January 1, 2027. Requests will surge as it nears, and missing it halts your fingerprinting right as spring sports screening peaks. DOJ also notes that Federal Rap Back requests go to the FBI for approval, which may take several months. Enroll now to avoid delays and get full federal visibility on every new applicant, along with documented proof of your screening program. Under Business and Professions Code §18975(d), liability insurers can ask youth-serving organizations for that proof before writing coverage.
CalVECHS FAQ
When did CalVECHS become a requirement?
In 2023, SB 135 amended Penal Code section 11105.3 so DOJ could create CalVECHS. The program’s regulations took effect July 1, 2026. Organizations that fingerprint under section 11105.3 must enroll before January 1, 2027.
Does my church or youth sports league have to enroll?
If your organization fingerprints under Penal Code section 11105.3, which covers most organizations complying with AB 506, yes. The DOJ requires enrollment by January 1, 2027 to continue submitting fingerprints.
Do school volunteers need CalVECHS?
Not for school volunteering. CalVECHS isn’t currently available to public or private schools or school contractors, which must follow the laws that specifically apply to them.
What happens if we don’t enroll by January 1, 2027?
Your organization would lose the ability to submit applicant fingerprints and receive results until enrollment is complete — which means volunteer onboarding stops.
What if a volunteer or employee is out of state?
The CalVECHS regulations allow applicants who can’t be fingerprinted via Live Scan within California to submit a completed FD-258 fingerprint card instead. Capital Live Scan processes FD-258 hard cards, including for out-of-state staff and volunteers.
Do our current volunteers need new Live Scans?
Not immediately. Existing cleared applicants remain covered, and in-state arrest notifications continue; however, re-fingerprinting is an option for every employer. New applicants are submitted under the new VECHS applicant types after you enroll.
Get Ahead of the Deadline
Once you’re enrolled and ready to screen, we’ll set up mobile group fingerprinting at your site — or individuals can visit any of our 35+ walk-in locations across California.
Call (916) 829-0350, email mobile@capitallivescan.com, or request a group quote.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. CalVECHS program requirements, enrollment procedures, and fees are set by the California Department of Justice and may change. For current official guidance, visit the California DOJ’s website or contact the DOJ directly. If you have questions about your organization’s legal obligations, please consult qualified legal counsel.
Sources: DOJ Information Bulletin 25-04-CJIS · DOJ Information Bulletin 25-13-CJIS · DOJ CalVECHS FAQ · CalVECHS regulations (DOJ) · CalVECHS Waiver Agreement, BCIA 9018 (DOJ)