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US CodeTitle 42Chapter 129§ 12645g

§ 12645g

Criminal history checks

42 U.S.C. § 12645g.
4 min read
Subchapter: NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STATE GRANT PROGRAM
((a)) ** In general** Each entity selecting individuals to serve in a position in which the individuals receive a living allowance, stipend, national service educational award, or salary through a program receiving assistance under the national service laws, shall, subject to regulations and requirements established by the Corporation, conduct criminal history checks for such individuals. ((b)) ** Requirements** A criminal history check under subsection (a) shall, except in cases approved for good cause by the Corporation, include— ((1)) a name-based search of the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( et seq.);  and ((2)) ((A)) a search of the State criminal registry or repository in the State in which the program is operating and the State in which the individual resides at the time of application; or ((B)) submitting fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history background check. ((c)) ** Eligibility prohibition** An individual shall be ineligible to serve in a position described under subsection (a) if such individual— ((1)) refuses to consent to the criminal history check described in subsection (b); ((2)) makes a false statement in connection with such criminal history check; ((3)) is registered, or is required to be registered, on a State sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( et seq.);  or ((4)) has been convicted of murder, as described in . ((d)) ** Special rule for individuals working with vulnerable populations** ((1)) ** In general** Notwithstanding subsection (b), on and after the date that is 2 years after , a criminal history check under subsection (a) for each individual described in paragraph (2) shall, except for an entity described in paragraph (3), include— ((A)) a name-based search of the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( et seq.); ((B)) a search of the State criminal registry or repository in the State in which the program is operating and the State in which the individual resides at the time of application; and ((C)) submitting fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history background check. ((2)) ** Individuals with access to vulnerable populations** An individual described in this paragraph is an individual age 18 or older who— ((A)) serves in a position in which the individual receives a living allowance, stipend, national service educational award, or salary through a program receiving assistance under the national service laws; and ((B)) as a result of such individual’s service in such position, has or will have access, on a recurring basis, to— ((i)) children age 17 years or younger; ((ii)) individuals age 60 years or older; or ((iii)) individuals with disabilities. ((3)) ** Exceptions** The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an entity— ((A)) where the service provided by individuals serving with the entity to a vulnerable population described in paragraph (2)(B) is episodic in nature or for a 1-day period; ((B)) where the cost to the entity of complying with this subsection is prohibitive; ((C)) where the entity is not authorized, or is otherwise unable, under State law, to access the national criminal history background check system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; ((D)) where the entity is not authorized, or is otherwise unable, under Federal law, to access the national criminal history background check system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; or ((E)) to which the Corporation otherwise provides an exemption from this subsection for good cause.

Release: pl-119-73not60 (2026-01-23)

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