# Federal Register #2026-21002

AmeriCorps VISTA proposes criminal-history acknowledgment form for candidates and sponsors

**Buyer:** Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps)
**Posted:** October 14, 2026
**Respond By:** November 13, 2026
**Identifier:** 2026-21002

AmeriCorps VISTA is proposing a criminal-history acknowledgment form for certain VISTA candidates and sponsors.
- **Government buyer:** Corporation for National and Community Service, operating as AmeriCorps; program: AmeriCorps VISTA. No sub-agency or specific office is identified.
- **Named OEMs and vendors:** None. No commercial products or contracted services are requested.
- **Proposed collection:** The AmeriCorps VISTA Criminal History Acknowledgment Form (CHAF) would collect information when candidates do not report criminal history on their application or have specified violent or serious offenses.
- **Information requested:** Candidates may provide offense and court-status details and, where applicable, accept special service conditions or submit a personal narrative. Sponsors or site supervisors provide a suitability recommendation and describe proposed support or supervision. AmeriCorps VISTA retains final authority over eligibility and suitability decisions.
- **Estimated annual burden:** 240 responses and 120 burden hours.
- **Procurement status:** This is a request for comments on a proposed information collection, not a solicitation for products or services.

### Description

The Corporation for National and Community Service, operating as AmeriCorps, proposes a new information collection for AmeriCorps VISTA sponsors and certain categories of candidates for VISTA service. The collection uses the AmeriCorps VISTA Criminal History Acknowledgment Form (CHAF) as part of a process intended to increase sponsor autonomy in member selection and standardize data collection for criminal-history issues. Sponsors complete the form when a candidate fails to report criminal history on their application or has certain violent or serious offenses; candidates and sponsors provide information, recommendations, and, in some cases, a personal narrative. Written comments are due November 13, 2026.

[View original listing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/14/2026-21002/agency-information-collection-activities-comment-request-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and)