Section 943.053(13), Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires all vendors, entities, or agencies submitting fingerprints electronically for the purpose of conducting a required or permitted criminal history record check, to enter into an agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The User Agreement contains information regarding quality compliance standards, fee payment, applicant’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and auditing practices.

Initially, please note the following considerations with regard to this process:

• Pursuant to Section 790.06(5)(c), F.S., not all LiveScan Service Providers are permitted to fingerprint individuals seeking a Concealed Weapon License from the state.
• FDLE does not process fingerprint submissions for immigration, TSA PreCheck, or any other federal application(s). To learn more about collecting fingerprints for such purposes, it is recommended that you contact the respective federal agency.
• FDLE only accepts and processes fingerprint-based criminal history record checks on behalf of the requesting entity. Individual applicants cannot request a criminal history record check without the requesting agency or entity’s involvement.
• The results of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check are sent to the requesting agency or entity; results are not sent to the LiveScan Service Provider or the individual being fingerprinted.
• FDLE does not send criminal history record check results out of state.

LiveScan devices may be obtained through a FDLE-registered vendor, as provided on the LiveScan Device Vendors listing on the FDLE’s website. The device you purchase must be on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI’s) Certified Products List for LiveScan systems.

Devices available through the LiveScan Device Vendors listing on the FDLE’s website meet the FDLE and FBI technical requirements for submission; however, some state regulatory agencies that receive criminal history record check results may have additional requirements. For example, the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse requires a photograph to be submitted at the time of fingerprint submission.

If you intend to submit transactions for a specific agency, it is recommended that you contact the agency that will be receiving the criminal history record check results to ensure your LiveScan system meets their specifications.

The cost of LiveScan devices vary depending on its function. Please contact a LiveScan device vendor for additional information.

The cost of each request for a criminal history record check is mandated by federal laws and Section 943.053, F.S. These fees are used to offset the cost of producing the record information and reflect the total cost of creating, storing, maintaining, updating, retrieving, improving, and providing criminal history information in a centralized, automated database and also include personnel, technology, and infrastructure expenses.

Please refer to the Criminal History Record Check Fee Schedule for additional information.

Non-governmental entities are required to establish a credit card subscription through the LiveScan device profile upon its activation with FDLE. The credit card is automatically charged the respective fee (depending upon the customer type) for each LiveScan submission. You are responsible for charging customers the appropriate fee.

Registration/Installation

Step 1: Once you decide to purchase a LiveScan device and submit a purchase order to a vendor on FDLE’s vendor list, please send an e-mail to the FDLE’s Applicant Services Unit (ASU) Section at ApplicantChecks@fdle.state.fl.us with your company/entity name, contact name/phone number/e-mail address, and the name of the vendor. Upon receipt, a member of ASU will send you a registration form to electronically complete and return. Next, a Device ID and Transaction Control Number (TCN) Prefix will be assigned to your device by ASU staff. A ASU member will add this information to the registration form and return it to you.

Step 2: Send a copy of the completed registration form (i.e., with the Device ID and TCN Prefix added by the FDLE) to your vendor so that they can appropriately configure your device.

Step 3: The vendor will schedule a date to install your device with you, as well as schedule a date and time for testing with the FDLE.

Testing/Activation

Step 1: A test submission must be sent from each registered LiveScan device to the FDLE’s Civil Workflow Control System (CWCS) test system during the scheduled testing period. FDLE staff will validate the data contained in the submission packet to ensure the type of transaction (TOT) has the required elements in the proper format.

Step 2: Upon the successful completion a test transaction for each LiveScan device, you will proceed with a formal activation process of the device. This process includes providing Applicant Services Unit (ASU) with the applicable credit card information that will be used to process the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks; each time a LiveScan transaction is submitted from your device, the credit card will be charged the appropriate fee. FDLE’s credit card processor accepts all major credit cards. Please ensure that there is a sufficient credit limit to cover the number of transactions you may submit during the credit card’s billing cycle.

The fees for transactions are established by the Florida Legislature and the FBI and may vary depending upon the reason or purpose that the customer is being fingerprinted. You are responsible for collecting the fee from the individual being fingerprinted, which should include the respective criminal history record check fee (charged to your credit card), along with the fee that you wish to charge for your fingerprinting service.

The successful completion of the above steps will enable you to begin submitting transactions to FDLE for fingerprint-based criminal history record checks.