Welcome to the
Alaska Background Check Program

 

NEW:  Announcing Electronic Submission of ROI forms!!!

ATTENTION: ANNOUNCING ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENT OPTIONS!

The Background Check Program is pleased to announce that effective on February 21, 2012 online credit card payment options will be available to all providers! The BCP will accept payments via MasterCard and Visa only. We encourage your facility to take advantage of this option and we anticipate that this will further streamline and enhance our processes.

At this time we also ask that you login to ensure that the email address you have on file with the BCP is current and up-to-date. We will be taking advantage of electronic communications and want to ensure to the best of our ability that you receive important program information. We also ask that you help us to ensure that data in the database is up-to-date and accurate by closing out any applicants that are no longer associated with your facility.

You can contact the BCP at BCUnit@alaska.gov or at 907-334-4475.


Attention

Due the volume of incomplete applications the Background Check Program has been receiving, we are sending reminders to all employers, providers, entities and applicants that incomplete applications cannot be processed.

A complete application must contain the following:

  1. Release of Information Form;
  2. $25.00 Application Fee;
  3. Certification of Positive Identification From;
  4. Fingerprint Card;
  5. $54.25 Fingerprint Processing Fee for the Department of Public Safety processing.

An applicant has 30 days to submit the requirements of a complete application; but the application will not be processed without all the requirements.

If an application has been entered but remains incomplete, after 30 days the application status will be closed. In order to apply again, the applicant must submit a new application along with all the requirements.

An employer, provider or entity may request an expedite review, but must provide at the time of the request, at a minimum, the Release of Information Form; the $25.00 Application Fee and the required Expedite Form justifying the urgent need  for the review.

Please refer to Regulations 7AAC 10.900-10.990 for supporting mandates.

NOTE:
 The Program continues to streamline processes to enhance efficiencies and is working toward an electronic payment process in the future. In the meantime, if making cash payments, please ensure exact dollar/change amount is received, as the Program does not have the means to make change.

IMPORTANT
In the past, as a courtesy to employers, the Program has processed provisional authorizations, with the Release of Information only. This has impacted our ability to produce timely results to ensure employees meet the state’s regulatory mandates in order to work with vulnerable populations.

 If you have applied on or after July 1, 2010, and have not received a provisional authorization, you may log onto your Facility Status Page to verify missing requirements.

Learn more:

About the Program

The Alaska Background Check Unit (BCU) provides centralized background check support for programs that provide for the health, safety, and welfare of persons who are served by the programs administered by the Department of Health and Social Services (DH&SS).  Programs subject to the licensing and certification authority of DH&SS or are eligible to receive payments, in whole or in part, from the department are subject to the statutory requirements of: AS 47.05.300–47.05.390.

The goals of the ABC are to:

  1. Extend the background checks and fitness determination to all staff serving vulnerable populations in programs that are required by statute or regulation to be licensed or certified by DH&SS or is eligible to receive payments, in whole or in part, from the department;
  2. Develop and implement a comprehensive set of measurements and reports across all DH&SS licensed and certified long term care programs; and
  3. Develop and implement electronic data interchange interfaces for submission and reporting background investigation requests.

Upgraded On-Line Background Check Application

The Alaska Background Check Unit (BCU) is pleased to announce a new addition to the online background check application — Alaska Background Check System (ABCS). In an effort to meet the needs of our providers, the BCU is excited to implement a secure log-in feature to our public interface of the ABCS effective the evening of July 30, 2008. This feature will provide each agency with the following enhancements:

  • Secure login
  • Ability to change application status
  • Ability to view application status of “barred”
  • Ability to change contact information
  • Ability to change your password

The user manual will guide each agency through the process, step by step, of setting up and maximizing the features.  The set up and use of these new features will be available after 9:00 p.m. on July 30, 2008.  Please do not hesitate to contact the BCU if you have any questions or issues accessing the secure log in. 

Your feedback is important.  Please send all feedback and suggestions to Teresa.narvaez@alaska.gov. The BCU is looking forward to working with all agencies to develop enhancements which will provide the tools and solutions each agency needs to best assist in the background check process.

Note: You will need a Facility Identification Number in order to submit a background check application.  If you do not have this information, contact the BCU office at (907) 334-4475.

To complete a background check application, the following information must be submitted to the BCU office:

  • Application Guide
  • On-line Background Check Application. If necessary, contact the BCU office to coordinate the submission of hard copy applications.  Please be aware that you may experience a delay in the processing of paper applications.
    Please note: Applications for background checks for students that are enrolled in a training program that requires them to participate in clinical rotations or other practicum activities as a part of their education should be entered as a student and not as a volunteer. The $25.00 application fee does apply to these individuals as well as the $54.25 fingerprint processing fee if applicable to that individual.
  • Release of Information Authorization Form.  Prior to notification of results of a background check, including issuance of a provisional clearance, a signed Release of Information Authorization form must be received by the BCU.
  • One (1) complete fingerprint card within thirty (30) days of receipt of application
  • Required fees (checks payable to State of Alaska) must be submitted within thirty (30) days of receipt of application

Additional Provider Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers are provided by the Background Check Unit (BCU). Updated: April 8, 2008.

Alaska Background Check Program Newsletter

Background Check Statute and Regulations

On February 9, 2007, the DH&SS, BCU began processing background checks under the statutory requirements of AS 47.05.300–47.05.390, federal requirements, and 7 AAC 10.900-7 AAC 10.990.

The following contains information which may assist the agency in making a determination of suitability for an individual’s association within an agency:

  • AS 47.05.300–47.05.390. The current statute governing the background checks system used by the Department of Health and Social Services.
  • 7 AAC 10.900-7 AAC 10.990. The current regulation which provides a common, consistent definition of barrier conditions for all programs.
  • Changes to Regulations 7 AAC 10 - Licensing, Certification, and Approvals. Emergency regulations dealing with barrier crimes, criminal history checks, and the centralized registry have been adopted as permanent and become effective February 13, 2008. 7 AAC 10 was changed to allow the department to grant a variance under certain circumstances for individuals convicted of a crime that would otherwise be a permanent barrier under the regulations. The changes to the regulations include submittal requirements, criteria that the department will consider, and a review process that will be followed before a variance may be granted.
  • Barrier Crime Matrix.  An easy to use barrier crime matrix developed using the barrier crimes identified in 7 AAC 10.900-7 AAC 10.990.

Please contact your oversight agency if you have any questions.

For more information,
please contact us at:

bcu@health.state.ak.us
(907) 334-4475, intra-state toll free (888) 362-4228
or fax (907) 269-3488, intra-state toll free fax (888) 364-3488