Introducción
The Virginia Business Screening Services (BSS) program is a state-mandated initiative regulated by the Virginia State Police (VSP) under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.16. It requires businesses handling Virginia criminal and traffic history records to register and comply with specific regulations to ensure proper management of sensitive information.
Who Should Register?
- Employment screening agencies
- Tenant screening services
- Any business collecting, assembling, evaluating,
or disseminating VA criminal/traffic records
¿Por qué Registrarse?
- Ensure legal compliance with Virginia Code § 19.2-392.16
- Access official sealing orders for criminal and traffic records
- Gain public listing as a Virginia state certified and licensed BSS provider
- Protect your business from potential penalties and legal action
Registration Process
- Complete the BSS User Agreement via Docusign
- Submit required documentation (e.g., W-9, business license)
- Pay the annual licensing fee
- Designate authorized users for BSS portal access
- Implement required data security measures
- Set up procedures for record management and dispute resolution
Registration Timelines and Program Availability
The BSS program is scheduled to launch on July 01, 2026. This is the date on which the Virginia State Police will begin providing seal order information to approved and registered BSS agencies.
The exact date when eligible agencies will be able to begin submitting registration requests has not been finalized. Prospective BSS agencies are encouraged to:
- Monitor this webpage regularly for official announcements and updates
- Review the published eligibility criteria, licensing fee information, and technical resources in advance.
- Begin internal planning for compliance, information system changes, and staff training.
Additional details about the registration opening date, how to apply and key milestones will be posted here as soon as they are available.
Annual Licensing Fee
- All approved BSS agencies are required to pay an annual licensing fee of $30,000 per account.
- The fee is due in full at the time of initial registration, before the agency is granted access to the seal order portal.
- After initial registration, a renewal fee of $30,000 is due each year on the anniversary of the agency’s registration date.
- Failure to pay the annual licensing renewal fee by the due date will result in suspension of access to seal order information and, if not corrected, closure of the BSS account in accordance with the program requirements.
Key Requirements
- Maintain confidentiality of sealing orders
- Promptly acknowledge the receipt of sealing orders
- Delete sealed records immediately upon notification to prevent further dissemination
- Implement robust data security measures
- Renew registration annually
Consequences of Non-Registration
- Legal action by injured parties or Attorney General
- Civil penalties up to $2,500 per willful violation
- Potential business disruption and reputational damage
Información de Contacto
For more information or assistance with the registration requirements and seal order processing standards including technical file formats, prospective business screening service agencies can reach out VSP’s Civil Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) Accounts section at ncjihelp@vsp.virginia.gov.
Resources
Sample Seal Order File
To assist prospective Business Screening Service (BSS) agencies in preparing their internal systems for receiving and processing seal order notifications, Virginia State Police has made available a sample seal order file.
This sample file is intended solely for technical design and testing purposes. Agencies may use it to develop and validate their file ingestion, parsing, and suppression processes to ensure that sealed criminal history record (CHR) information is identified and removed from dissemination workflows.
Descargar
Important Notice:
- The sample file contains synthetic, non‑identifiable data created for demonstration purposes only.
- All BSS agencies are responsible for designing secure and automated production processes that immediately suppress or delete any CHR data listed in official seal order files transmitted by VSP.
- Dissemination or sharing of sealed criminal history information, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited under Virginia law (§ 19.2-392.16).
- Each registered BSS agency must validate that its systems can receive seal orders, updating records promptly, and preventing dissemination of sealed or expunged data.
Legal
- Full text of Virginia Code § 19.2-392.16
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the cost of the annual licensing fee?
The annual licensing fee for registering in the Business Screening Service program is $30,000 per year. The fee shall be due and payable in full during the registration process and upon each subsequent annual renewal.
How many users can access the BSS seal order portal under one agency account?
Each BSS agency account may designate up to five individual users to access the BSS seal order portal to view seal order information. These users must be specifically identified by the agency, and each will receive unique login credentials. Sharing credentials among staff or locations is not permitted and may be treated as a violation of the BSS agreement.
How quickly must sealing orders be processed?
Sealed records must be promptly processed upon notification and downloading of the seal order file.
What penalties exist for non-compliance?
Penalties can include $1,000 or actual damages (whichever is greater), plus costs and attorney fees for affected individuals. Civil penalties up to $2,500 per willful violation may also be imposed.
How do I update my organization’s information with VSP?
Contact VSP’s Civil Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) Accounts section at ncjihelp@vsp.virginia.gov for information on updating your registration details.
What happens if I fail to renew my registration?
Failure to renew by the specified date will result in immediate suspension of access to sealing orders until the renewal process is completed and all outstanding fees are paid.