CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED AS OF JAN 1, 2022 FOR ALL KEY PARTICIPANTS

The only criminal history record(s) that will affect the ability to register with the CDA Hemp Program are drug related felonies charged in the 10 years preceding your application.

You have two types of contacts on your application: Key Participants and Additional Contacts.  Identifying Key Participants accurately is required by law. Be mindful with this step. Include anyone who fits the description.

Key Participant as defined by Rule (Criminal History Check required): A sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership,
member of an LLC, or a person with executive managerial control in a corporation
OR
Additional Contact(s): (No Criminal History Check required) “Key participant” does not include non-executive managers
or staff such as farm, field, or shift managers, office staff

Applications will now be 2-step process.  PLAN AHEAD and allow for time to be fingerprinted. This will add to processing times.  Be sure to complete both steps below.

• Step 1: Applicants will complete an application leaving the Criminal History Check date field blank. Application status will show “Awaiting Criminal History Check”. It will not be reviewed by CDA Staff until ALL Key Participant Criminal History Check info is entered.
• Step 2: After completing Step 1, all Key Participants on your Hemp registration will need to have a fingerprinted background check performed. (See packet on bottom of this page for scheduling information) Once all Key Participants have been fingerprinted return to the application. This is the only way we are notified that you have completed your background check.  Select “Edit the contact” and enter the date that each Key Participant(s)’ fingerprinting was performed. Then, you will be able enter your payment and submit your completed application. Your status will now show "CDA Reviewing"

*Key Participants with a background check on file from a previous Registration will enter the registration number for which the background check was submitted, instead of completing a new background check. NOTE: The background check must be completed 60 days or less from application. We can NOT use a previous background check that was performed for another agency or purpose.

SCHEDULING YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK for Key Participants: Please view the Background Check Information packet below for specific guidance on how and where to schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints completed, as well as the Unique ID Code for CDA that you will need to provide the vendor before you can schedule an appointment. This packet also includes privacy policies and other important notice to applicants.

Criminal History Check Exemption- Previous Registrants

The exemption applies to a person who was lawfully growing hemp under section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940) before December 20, 2018, and whose conviction also occurred before that date.

You must STILL have a Criminal Check Check performed.

What the exemption means is if you were registered with CDA to grow hemp in Colorado between 2014 and Dec 20, 2018, and your Drug Related Felony occurred prior to December 20, 2018, then you are exempt from this blocking your ability to join the program. But you are not exempt from having the Criminal History Check done as we still need to review the report to confirm this information.

If you were a registrant prior to Jan 1, 2022 we still need to get an initial background check on file going forward. Registrations issued prior to Jan 1, 2022 do NOT have a background check on file as it was not previously required. Once you have had an initial background check done (after Jan 1, 2022) it will be valid for 3 years. Just enter the registration number under which the initial background check was completed for CDA Hemp Program.