Effective January 1, 2022, California Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506) established new, rigorous standards for youth-serving organizations to protect children from abuse and neglect. This law bridges gaps in previous background check processes by requiring a higher level of scrutiny for those in contact with minors.

Is My Organization affected?

AB 506 applies to all "Youth Service Organizations" operating in California. This includes, but is not limited to:

K-12 schools
Youth sports leagues and athletic clubs
Church youth groups and religious organizations
Scouting programs
Daycare businesses
After-school programs and extracurricular clubs
Summer and other camps
Other organizations that serve minors

Who in the Organization is affected?

Under the law, the following individuals are required to undergo a background check:

Administrators and Employees of the organization.
Regular Volunteers: Any volunteer (18 or older) who has direct contact with or supervises children for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year.

Why Live Scan is Now Mandatory?

Prior to AB 506, many organizations relied on "name-based" background checks. However, California law now mandates a Live Scan background check pursuant to Penal Code Section 11105.3.

How does Live Scan Change the Process?

Fingerprint-Based: Unlike name-based searches, Live Scan uses digital fingerprints to ensure the criminal history record belongs to the correct person, eliminating errors from common names or aliases

DOJ & FBI Database Access: Live Scan allows organizations to receive state-level (DOJ) and, in many cases, federal-level (FBI) criminal history summaries.

Subsequent Arrest Notifications: Once a Live Scan is performed, the Department of Justice can provide the organization with "subsequent arrest notifications," alerting the agency if a staff member or volunteer is arrested after their initial screening.

The 3 Pillars of AB 506 Compliance

To be fully compliant with the law, organizations must ensure their staff and regular volunteers complete these three steps:

Mandated Reporter Training: Completion of the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) training.

Live Scan Background Check: Fingerprinting through a certified service provider (like us) to screen for a history of child abuse or other disqualifying offenses.

Child Abuse Prevention Policies: Implementation of internal policies, such as the "two-adult rule" (ensuring two mandated reporters are present during youth contact).

Get Compliant Today!!

Navigating new state mandates can be complex, but getting your Live Scan shouldn't be. We provide fast, professional fingerprinting services specifically designed to help your organization meet AB 506 requirements.

California AB 506: Strengthening Youth Safety through