June 10, 2013
To: CHSAA Sports Officials
Re: Background Checks
From: Tom Robinson, CHSAA Assistant Commissioner and Officials’ Liaison
General Information
After a recommendation by the CHSAA Officials’ Liaison, the CHSAA Board of Directors approved the policy on June 8, 2013 that all officials, new or renewal, CHSAA registered or not, currently assigned games or not, must secureand pay for a background check document from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to officiate Colorado High School Activities Association interscholastic contests.This policy is effective immediately.
The Background Check Process
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s website is You must purchase and download the background check document online with MasterCardor Visa. The cost is $6.85. The background check document must be sent via email to Monica Tillman in the CHSAA office at to complete your registration for the 2013-2014 year.If you have no arrest record(s) you will incur no additional expense and the background check document(s)are good for three years.
If the background check document indicates that you have anarrest(s) record you must provide the CHSAA office with a Colorado Courts document that states the disposition of the arrest(s). The Colorado Courts website is The cost to search the Colorado Courts website is no more than $7 and you can search all Colorado Counties with one search. The total cost to you if you have an arrest record is less than $14 and includes the CBI background check document.
Please note that you are protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and should not be denied a job, in this case officiating, solely because you committed a crime. If the court documents show that you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, a panel of representatives from the constituents of the Colorado High School Activities Association will determine your registration using the following criteria as recommended by the Fair Credit Reporting Act: 1. The nature and gravity of the offense; 2. The time that has passed since the conviction or completion of the criminal sentence; 3. The nature of the offense as it may or may not pertain to officiating Colorado High School Activities Association interscholastic contests.
Should you be denied registration, which will be made to you in writing, you may appeal the decision to an appeals committee, formed by the CHSAA office.
Deadlines
The deadlines for receipt of the CBI electronic document in the CHSAA office are the following:
- August 1, 2013 for 2013 fall sport officials: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, and Volleyball.
- November 1, 2013 for 2013 winter sports officials: Basketball, Ice Hockey, Swimming, and Wrestling.
- January 27, 2014 for 2014 spring sports officials: Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, and Track and Field.
Questions and Answers:
Q1. If the court document showsthat I was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, will I be prohibited from officiating?
A1. Not necessarily. Each background check document will be considered by a panel of CHSAA constituents on a case by case basisusing the criteria as recommended by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Q2. What happens if I miss the deadline?
A2. If you are currently assigned games for the fall, your assigner will unassignyourgames and you will be prohibited from officiating until the CHSAA office receives the document.
Q3. What if I don’t have a computer, internet, MasterCard, or Visa, etc.?
A3. Find someone that does and solicit their help to secure the document(s).
Q4. I recently had a background check run for a concealed weapon permit, or a CDE teaching position, or I officiate at the college level, etc. Will CHSAA accept those types of background checks?
A4. No. All officials will have to submit a Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check document. The agencies listed above, because of privacy issues, will not share their background check information.
Q5. What happens if in the past I indicated ‘NO’ to the CHSAA question, “Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony or Misdemeanor?”, and my background check indicates I have been?”
A5. Because of the new policy, you will be granted amnesty, as there will be no repercussions from the past. However, going forward, any untruthful statements given by you will be cause for immediate, and potentially permanent, revocation of the right to officiate Colorado high school sports.
Q6: My background check shows that I was arrested for a felony, but all charges were later dropped. How does that affect my ability to officiate?
A6: While the felony arrest may require you to submit additional documents to the CHSAA, the lack of a conviction shouldbe sufficient to allow you to register.
Q7: Was the president of my officiating organization aware of this decision prior to the notification to officials?
A7: Yes. However the decision to institute the policy only received the objection that the official would have burden the cost of the background check. Most of the presidents agreed that the cost of the CBI background check document was nominal and the most efficient way to gather the required information.
Q8: Why is the CHSAA so abruptly requiring background checks?
A8: In light of some highly publicized arrests of officials who had prior arrests that were assumed by the medial to be felony or misdemeanor convictions and the fact that CHSAA holds safety as one of its top priorities, it is compelled to institute this policyon behalf of officials and member schools alike. It is a logical, reasonable, affordable and appropriate response to help keep our student participants safe.