Nevada Volunteers Only
You must complete a GSSN background check every three years. If you have questions about when to submit or renew your background check, please contact girlscoutshelp@gssn.org. Have other questions? We’re here to help! Email girlscoutshelp@gssn.org for assistance.
Who needs to submit a background check? 
How do I submit a background check?
What can I expect after I submit a background check?
Disqualification
Unresolved Situations
Disclosure
“How do I dispute a decision made by Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada?”
Background Check Requirement for CA Volunteers
As an appreciated volunteer, we know you understand the importance of keeping girls safe. A recent California bill (AB 506) was passed which added all Youth Service Organizations to the list of organizations whose volunteers and staff must complete training in child abuse and neglect reporting, become mandated reporters, and undergo Live Scan background checks. Under the law, GSSN must meet these new requirements by October 1, 2023.
Mandated Reporter Training
The mandated reporter training may be met by completing the 2 hour online training provided by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services at this link: https://mandatedreporterca.com/training/volunteers.
We ask that you please complete the mandated reporter training by October 1, 2023.
Mandated Reporter Training Certificates are required to be updated every 3 years.
You may have already completed mandated reporter training for either work or other volunteer services. In the event that you have, we will honor that training if it meets the California state requirements.
Live Scan Fingerprinting
AB 506 also requires all staff and volunteers who have more than 16 hours a month (or 32 hours per year) of contact with a youth to also complete a Live Scan background check (the digital version of inked fingerprinting). To complete this process, you will need to take the GSSN Live Scan Form (below) to a Live Scan site.
Please ensure that you take a valid government issued ID such as a driver’s license, state/government ID card, or passport. It is critical that you use the GSSN Live Scan form, as it includes our billing number as well as the routing information for the results of your background check. GSSN will automatically be billed for the Department of Justice and FBI fees (approximately $50); however, each individual must pay a fingerprint rolling fee (generally $25 or less) to the Live Scan service provider. Please retain your receipt. You may either be reimbursed by your Troop or Service Unit for this fee. In the event that this presents a financial hardship, please contact Customer Care for reimbursement within 90 days. To find the Live Scan site nearest to you, click on this link for a list https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/finger_cert.
The Legislation
Even if you already have a background check, you must complete a new one.
CA Volunteers only
Due to the change in legislation, all background checks previously conducted through Asurint Background Screening no longer comply with the new mandates of AB 506. This means that all staff and volunteers will have to complete the new Live Scan background check process. With the introduction of Live Scan background checks, all volunteers will only have to complete their Live Scan background check once. The Council will receive subsequent notifications of any future background check items, so it will not be necessary to complete background checks every three years as has been required in the past.
We recognize that as a Girl Scout Volunteer you dedicate many hours to serving our girls each month, and we appreciate your assistance in completing these new requirements of the California Law. Our commitment is to provide as much support as possible to ensure our volunteers are not severely impacted with time/travel issues. We will continue to update you on this process but want to make you all aware of the upcoming requirements.
We thank you for your cooperation and assistance in completing your Live Scan at a third party provider until that time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Customer Care at (775) 322-0642 or girlscoutshelp@gssn.org
Thank you for all that you do to ensure we have a safe community where we build girls of courage, confidence and character!
