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. Below, we explain what CalVECHS is, who must enroll, what it costs, and exactly how to complete enrollment,step by step.

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 for free enrollment guidance.

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, and the program’s rules are in force today.

The Big Change: You’ll Finally See Out-of-State Records

This is the piece that surprises almost every organization we talk to.

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 , non-sanitized federal response, including arrest and disposition information,delivered the same way your state results arrive today. For organizations whose mission is protecting children, this is the most significant screening improvement in years.

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? Be sure to confirm with the California Department of Justice at State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General

How to Enroll in CalVECHS: Step by Step

Enrollment runs through the DOJ’s Applicant Agency Justice Connection (AAJC) Portal or the Agency Authorization 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)

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. Capital Live Scan walks organizations through DOJ registration free of charge .

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) before being fingerprinted, and annually thereafter — it’s the applicant’s consent that lets your organization receive their federal results. The filing mechanics are simpler than they sound; see the FAQ 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 question every administrator asks: do our current volunteers need to be re-fingerprinted? No, not immediately. Existing clearances stay valid and in-state arrest notifications continue; however, re-fingerprinting is an option for every employer.

What CalVECHS Costs

There is no additional fee to participate in CalVECHS. Standard fingerprint processing fees still apply — and nonprofits get a meaningful break: non-profit charitable organizations tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501 subdivision (c)(3)7 are exempt from state-level CORI fees .

How CalVECHS Fits With AB 506

If you’ve followed our AB 506 coverage, here’s the connection. 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.

If you’re working through AB 506 compliance for the new school year, start with our AB 506 Compliance Checklist, then put CalVECHS enrollment next on the list.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until December

January 1, 2027 sounds far away. It isn’t: DOJ requests take weeks to process, submissions will surge as the deadline nears, and missing it halts your fingerprinting right as spring sports screening peaks. Enroll this fall and avoid unnecessary delays: full federal visibility on every new applicant, plus documented proof of a modernized screening program that liability insurers increasingly ask youth-serving organizations to show.

CalVECHS FAQ

What does CalVECHS stand for?

California Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service — the DOJ program that lets qualified organizations serving children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities receive state and federal fingerprint background check results.

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.

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.

How do the BCIA 9018 waivers work in practice?

The form supports e-signature, and the DOJ lets agencies pick one annual refresh date instead of tracking every person’s signing anniversary. Keep each signed waiver on file for at least three years or until the DOJ completes a compliance audit — the Department audits qualified entities every three years.

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. New applicants are submitted under the new VECHS applicant types after you enroll.

Get Ahead of the Deadline — We’ll Help, Free

Capital Live Scan is here to help California nonprofits, churches, leagues, and community organizations through compliance. Need help post CalVECHS enrollment? We’ll set up mobile group fingerprinting at your site once you’re ready to screen — or individuals can visit any of our 35 walk-in locations across California.

Call (916) 829-0350, email mobile@capitallivescan.com, or visit https://capitallivescan.com/contact/

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.