Livescan is administered by the Department of Justice, and is therefore an entirely separate process from Ministry Safe/Safe Gatherings.
There are instructions below for California and Hawaii, as the process differs in each state. Click on the button of your state name to see instructions. California is shown by default.
What is CalVECHS?
California Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service
In effect as of July 1, 2026
CalVECHS is the California DOJ program that allows eligible organizations—including many churches—to obtain FBI national criminal history information when authorized.
Why Does CalVECHS Matter?
California records only tell us what happened in California.
Many volunteers have lived elsewhere.
CalVECHS allows qualified organizations to receive:
That creates a much more complete background screening.
How Does a Church in California Get Started?
For those churches that have not yet signed up with the DOJ for fingerprinting, you will start from the beginning with CalVECHS. If you are already fingerprinting, you’ll be transferring to CalVECHS.
Scenario 1: You have not yet signed up with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a LiveScan account:
Step One: Apply to enroll in CalVECHS
Churches applying for the first time should apply to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) through the California Volunteer Employee Criminal History System (CalVECHS).
Complete the CalVECHS User Agreement (BCIA 9017) and the other materials required by DOJ.
You do not need to obtain an ORI number before beginning the CalVECHS application. If your church does not already have an ORI, DOJ will assign one as part of the approval process.
California DOJ Applicant Agencies:
https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/agencies
Step Two: Identify your Custodian of Records.
The Custodian of Records must complete DOJ’s required authorization process, which includes a fingerprint-based background check.
https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/custodian
This person keeps safe, shares, and destroys official criminal history files. They also act as the main link between their group and the DOJ.
Step 3: Identify all staff and volunteers who must complete AB506 requirements.
Step 4: Complete CalVECHS enrollment and receive your ORI
DOJ will review the church’s CalVECHS application. Once the church is approved, DOJ will provide or confirm the church’s ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) and authorization to receive criminal-history information.
Step 5: Establish your Live Scan process
Once DOJ has approved the church and provided its ORI and CalVECHS authorization, identify a Live Scan provider that applicants can use.
California DOJ Live Scan locations:
https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations
The church does not necessarily need an exclusive account with one Live Scan provider. Applicants may generally use an authorized Live Scan location that can process the appropriate DOJ request.
Step 6: Provide each applicant with the CalVECHS Live Scan form
Provide each employee or volunteer who requires fingerprinting with BCIA 8016VECHS — Request for Live Scan Service (CalVECHS).
The church should complete the agency information, including its ORI and the appropriate level/type of background check. The applicant completes the required personal information and takes the form and acceptable identification to the Live Scan provider.
Fingerprint results are transmitted to the organization authorized under the ORI and should be handled only by authorized personnel in accordance with DOJ confidentiality and record-security requirements.
Scenario 2: If you already have an ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) number and are actively using LiveScan:
1) You will want to “upgrade” to CalVECHS by the end of 2026. Apply for the VECHS system using the agreement application form (BCIA-9017).
2) You will fill out a couple of additional enrollment forms so that you can receive subsequent arrest notifications for ongoing staff and volunteers. You’ll see that these forms tell you how you should maintain your records.
3) When your new staff and volunteers go get their Live Scans, they’ll use the new form – BCIA-9016VECHS
4) CalVECHS requires your employees/volunteer to not only sign the original waiver to permit access to their data, but they will also be required to sign a new Waiver annually (BCIA-9018)
5) Persons previously Live Scanned prior to 1/1/2027 will need to be rescanned if your church wants to receive federal “RAP Back” data after 1/1/2027.
RAP Back = Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background
Important Process Note for Employers:
When to Request a Background Check and LiveScan in CA
Employees: California employers are prohibited from performing background checks (paper or via Live Scan) on prospective employees prior to making a “conditional offer of employment”.
Volunteers: Volunteers are not employees, so churches may freely run background checks on volunteers at any point in time prior to active service, subject to the Waiver requirement.
Instructions For Hawaii:
Become a Qualified Entity
The church:
After approval, Hawaii issues:
for fingerprint submissions.
The Fingerprinting Process with FieldPrint
The church:
The church—not the state—determines whether the applicant is suitable for service with children, consistent with the law and its own policies.
If you are unsure, check with your District Office and HUB Insurance.
Livescan is administered by the Department of Justice, and is therefore an entirely separate process from Ministry Safe/Safe Gatherings.
You can access the PDF version of these instructions, at this link.