Why do I need to be fingerprinted?
California State Assembly Bill AB 506 requires administrators, employees, and regular volunteers of youth service organizations to undergo a background check to identify and exclude people with a history of child abuse. Clergy are mandated reporters under California law; therefore, churches qualify as youth service organizations.
Who needs to be fingerprinted?
All active clergy in the Diocese, regardless of canonical residence, including bishops, priests, deacons, retired clergy, volunteer clergy, and postulants.
All paid staff, including administrators, secretaries, development and communications staff, sextons, and music staff, including paid singers. An on-site daycare, pre-K, or school should fingerprint its own staff.
All volunteers with pastoral relationships, including Sunday school and confirmation leaders, parent volunteers, Eucharistic ministers and visitors, and key holders with access to the building outside regular operating hours, including altar guild members, renters, and building hosts.
Do not conduct LiveScan background checks on anyone under age 18. For a person needing a background check who may not have a Social Security number or legal documentation, contact Missy Morain, Missioner for Christian Formation, Children and Youth. Limited exemptions may apply.
How do I get fingerprinted?
- Download and complete the employee form (PDF, opens in a new tab) or volunteer form (PDF, opens in a new tab). Add only the applicant information; no additional information is required.
- Print the form and take it to a certified LiveScan fingerprint processor. Find LiveScan locations (opens in a new tab).
- Email Missy Morain with the name of the person being live-scanned and the congregation name and location so the records can be connected to the congregation.
How much will this cost?
Fingerprint rolling generally costs about $20 to $40 per person, plus the FBI background-check fees, and is paid at the time of fingerprinting.
Additional questions
Can I use a LiveScan completed for another organization?
No. Each organization needs separate permission to access background records, so the forms above must be used.
Do I need LiveScan if I completed an online background check?
Yes.
For help, contact Missy Morain, Missioner for Christian Formation, Children and Youth, at mmorain@ladiocese.org.