Bottom Line for California Nonprofits
- ✓Regular volunteers at youth service organizations (16+ hrs/month or 32+ hrs/year with minors)
- ✓Volunteers at licensed community care facilities with client contact
- ✓Volunteers at licensed childcare centers (CDSS-licensed)
- +1 more covered roles below
State Laws That Apply to Volunteer Background Checks
Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506) — California Business and Professions Code § 18975
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 18975 (Chapter 2.9)Effective January 1, 2022, requires all administrators, employees, and 'regular volunteers' (18+, more than 16 hours/month or 32 hours/year of youth contact) of youth service organizations to complete a Live Scan fingerprint background check via Penal Code § 11105.3. Also mandates mandated reporter training.
California Penal Code § 11105.3 — Live Scan Fingerprint Check
Cal. Pen. Code § 11105.3Authorizes the California DOJ to release criminal history information for employment, licensing, and volunteer screening purposes for organizations serving vulnerable populations, including children and elderly adults.
California Health and Safety Code §§ 1522 et seq. — Community Care Facility Background Checks
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1522Requires criminal background checks for all applicants, licensees, adult residents, certain volunteers, and employees at community care facilities who have contact with clients. Applies to licensed residential and day care settings.
Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA)
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1786–1786.60California analog to the federal FCRA that governs investigative consumer reports. Requires written disclosure and consent before background checks are gathered; provides consumers broader rights than federal FCRA, including the right to receive a copy of any report and notification of the agency used.
Who Must Be Screened in California
!Legally Required to Be Screened
- •Regular volunteers at youth service organizations (16+ hrs/month or 32+ hrs/year with minors)
- •Volunteers at licensed community care facilities with client contact
- •Volunteers at licensed childcare centers (CDSS-licensed)
- •Adult volunteers in healthcare settings serving vulnerable adults
Types of Background Checks Required in California
How to Get Background Checks in California
$5 per check — includes national criminal database, sex offender registry across all 50 states, SSN trace, and FCRA Certified Compliance Team review.
Start Free Today →Volunteer Screening in California: What You Need to Know
California has one of the most robust state-level volunteer screening frameworks in the country. AB 506 was enacted in direct response to abuse scandals in youth sports (particularly USA Gymnastics). The new CalVECHS regulations are set to become effective July 1, 2026, modernizing how nonprofits access DOJ records. The state's large immigrant population and sanctuary policies affect how immigration-related records are handled. Faith-based youth organizations, youth sports leagues, and large nonprofit networks (United Way LA, YMCA chapters) are particularly affected by AB 506.
Compliance Tips for California Nonprofits
- 1
Use Live Scan fingerprinting through an authorized DOJ-approved channeler — do not use third-party name-only checks for AB 506 compliance, as fingerprint submission to DOJ and FBI is required.
- 2
Track volunteer hours carefully: the 16 hrs/month or 32 hrs/year threshold triggers mandatory screening under AB 506 — implement a volunteer hour-logging system to avoid compliance gaps.
- 3
Monitor CalVECHS regulatory updates closely, as new program rules take effect July 1, 2026 and may change how qualified entities submit and receive background check results.
- 4
Provide written ICRAA-compliant disclosure and obtain signed consent before running any background check on volunteers — use separate disclosure documents (not buried in a volunteer application).
- 5
Implement mandated reporter training alongside background checks as AB 506 requires both for covered youth-serving volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506) — California Business and Professions Code § 18975 apply to my nonprofit?
California law applies to nonprofits with volunteers working in covered roles — typically involving direct, unsupervised contact with children, elderly individuals, or vulnerable adults. California imposes mandatory background check requirements for volunteers in youth-serving organizations under AB 506, and for volunteers in community care facilities under existing CDSS licensing rules.
What happens if we skip background checks in California?
Failing to screen volunteers in California can expose your organization to negligent supervision liability, loss of insurance coverage, and — in sectors with mandatory requirements — regulatory penalties. Under the federal FCRA, running checks without proper procedures also creates compliance risk.
How long does a California volunteer background check take?
California Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis (BCIA); CalVECHS program for nonprofits; CDSS for community care licensing typically processes checks in 3–5 business days (Live Scan/DOJ); up to 4 weeks for FBI national check responses. VolunteerBadge's national criminal database search returns results instantly for most volunteers.