Live Scan Background Check

Dear Ward Members,

"The Church's position is that abuse cannot be tolerated in any form" (General Handbook Section 38.6.2). You may have heard that California law now requires Church members, who work with minors 32 hours or more per year undergo a criminal background check. You may be interested to know that the background check searches only for certain serious offenses, not for traffic or other minor issues. The following information and materials will help us facilitate compliance in our stake.

Most ward leaders and many members of our ward are now required to be fingerprinted and have a complete criminal background check performed.

The following is a summary of the Leader Information provided by Church headquarters.

1. Who is required to get a background check?

   • Stake Presidencies & Bishoprics.

   • Stake and Ward Primary workers.

   • Stake and Ward Young Women and Young Men leaders, advisors, instructors and camp directors.

   • Seminary teachers and secretaries (including regular substitutes).

   • Any other person who may work with youth or children for 32 hours or more per year. This includes those serving as ministers with junior companions who are minors.

2. How does this work the process work? Members will fill out the provided Request for Live Scan Service form and go to a Live Scan Service operator to get fingerprinted. The results are sent to Church headquarters. An individual at Church headquarters reviews the results and flags the membership record of those that have been approved to work with minors (this flag is only visible to leaders and clerks). No one will see criminal history information except the designated Custodians of Records at Church headquarters who reviews it. A member information sheet on completing the Live Scan form can be found here.

3. Crimes preventing a member from serving with minors include any sexual offense against a minor or adult and any violent offense against a child. Background check searches only for certain serious offenses, not for traffic or other minor issues.

4. Background checks are not transferable from an outside entity. However, it becomes part of a member's church record and transfers with them when they change callings or move to a different ward or stake.

5. Those currently in callings with minors should comply as soon as reasonably possible. The stake goal is to have background check process completed by September 1st. Newly called members should get a background check and be cleared before being sustained and set apart. Church members typically will not be allowed to work with minors unless their membership record indicates they have been cleared.

6. Members. will be charged $15-45 for the fingerprinting part of the process. They should submit a request to the Ward Finance Clerk, Matt Hom, for reimbursement as soon as possible.

7. The following are the lowest cost Live scan vendors in Folsom and El Dorado Hills (Plan on a 15-20 minute visit).

   • Folsom, $20 - The UPS Store at 13389 Folsom Blvd, Suite 300, 916-608-9400

   • Folsom, $21 - Capital Live Scan. The UPS store at 705 E. Bidwell, Suite #2, 916-983-3060

   • Folsom, $24 - More than a Mailbox. 1750 Prairie City Road, Suite 130, 916-351-9241

   • EDH, $30 - JCM - Notary and Live Scan. 1245 Villagio Drive

8. Due to the large of live scans, there is currently a significant delay in receiving back results. Thus initially we'll be tracking compliance by tracking those who have submitted reimbursement request. Thus, once you've completed the Live Scan, please promptly submit your reimbursement request so we can track those who've completed the scan.

9. In addition, as part of the Church’s ongoing effort to ensure the safety of children and youth, an online training course for protecting children and youth has been implemented. All adults who work with children or youth are to complete the course and to renew the training every three years. For those nearing three years, they will need to repeat the training.

   • The training can be accessed at protectingchildren.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and will take about 30 minutes to complete. Each member will need to log in individually with his or her own Church account for the completion of training to be recorded.

   • In addition to those working with children and youth, parents and others are also encouraged to complete the training.

10. If you have questions regarding the Live Scan or training, please contact the Bishop or Ward Clerk, David Call.

Protecting Children and Youth Training

As part of the Church’s ongoing effort to ensure the safety of children and youth, an online training course for protecting children and youth has been implemented. All adults who work with children or youth are to complete the course and to renew the training every three years. For those nearing three years, they will need to repeat the training.

The training can be accessed at protectingchildren.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and will take about 30 minutes to complete. Each member will need to log in individually with his or her own Church account for the completion of training to be recorded.

In addition to those working with children and youth, parents and others are also encouraged to complete the training.

If you have questions regarding the training, please contact the Bishop or Ward Clerk