Fingerprint & Background Check Policies

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fingerprint & background check policies

Fingerprint & Background Check Policies

Our Commitment to a Safe & Flourishing Community

At The Bay Compassion, our mission is to foster a flourishing community where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. We are committed to creating a secure environment for our program participants, volunteers, and staff. To uphold this commitment and comply with legal requirements, we have established the following fingerprint and background check policies for all volunteers.

I. Purpose

The primary purpose of our background check policy is to ensure the safety and well-being of our community, particularly children and vulnerable adults. This policy helps us:

  • Protect Program Participants: Create a safe and supportive environment for all individuals we serve.
  • Ensure Volunteer Suitability: Verify the suitability of volunteers for their roles and responsibilities.
  • Comply with Legal Requirements: Adhere to all applicable federal and state laws, including California Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506) for youth-serving organizations.
  • Maintain Public Trust: Uphold the trust and confidence of our community, partners, and supporters.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all prospective and current volunteers who wish to serve in any of our programs. A background check is required for all volunteers, and a fingerprint-based background check is mandatory for those who will have direct contact with children or vulnerable adults. This includes, but is not limited to, volunteers in the following programs:

  • Adopt-A-School
  • Read On!
  • Clean Start Homeless Outreach
  • Healthy Life Food Market

III. Background Check Process

A. Disclosure and Authorization

All volunteer applicants will be informed that a background check is a required part of the application process. Before a background check is conducted, applicants must provide written consent by completing a "Disclosure and Authorization" form. This form will authorize The Bay Compassion to obtain a consumer report (background check) for volunteer purposes.

B. Fingerprinting

For volunteer roles that involve interaction with children or vulnerable adults, a fingerprint-based background check is required. This process involves a Live Scan fingerprinting service that checks against state and federal databases. We provide this service free of charge to our volunteers.

C. Information We Review

Our background checks are conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other applicable laws. The information we review may include:

  • Criminal history records (local, state, and federal)
  • Sex offender registry status
  • Identity verification

D. Confidentiality

All information obtained through the background check process will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of evaluating a volunteer's suitability. Access to this information is limited to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to know.

IV. Adverse Action

If a background check reveals information that may disqualify an applicant from volunteering, The Bay Compassion will follow the adverse action process as required by the FCRA. This includes:

  1. Pre-Adverse Action Notice: The applicant will be provided with a copy of the background check report and a summary of their rights under the FCRA.
  2. Opportunity to Dispute: The applicant will have an opportunity to review the report and dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information with the consumer reporting agency that provided the report.
  3. Final Decision: After a reasonable period, The Bay Compassion will make a final decision and provide the applicant with a "Notice of Adverse Action" if they are deemed ineligible to volunteer.

V. Re-Screening

To ensure our records remain current, all volunteers are subject to re-screening every two years. The re-screening process will be the same as the initial background check process.

VI. Compliance with California AB 506

The Bay Compassion is committed to full compliance with California Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506), which sets new requirements for youth-serving organizations. As part of our compliance, we require all volunteers who work with youth to:

  • Complete a fingerprint-based background check.
  • Complete mandated reporter training.

VII. Questions

If you have any questions about our Fingerprint & Background Check Policies, please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@thebaycompassion.org.

This policy is subject to change at any time. Last updated: January 7, 2026.