Pennsylvania Child Protection Legislation
On July 1, 2015, a new Pennsylvania state law took effect in an effort to better protect our state’s youth from abuse in any organization that directly works with and provides services to children. This includes such organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, YMCA, Red Cross, churches, school districts and most certainly the Boy Scouts of America.
In all cases the clearances are valid for 60 months (and may be applied for every 57 months, at no cost to volunteers) and copies of all clearances must be kept on file at the unit and the Council Service Center.
Who needs clearances?
- Any adult volunteer (18 years of age or older) applying for an unpaid position as a volunteer responsible for the welfare of a child (acting in lieu of or on behalf of the parent) or having direct contact (provide care, supervision, guidance, or control of children) or routine interaction (regular, repeated, or on-going contact) with children will need the three required clearances.
- Adult participants (Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Explorers) 18 years of age or older are required to get the three clearances.
- Registered unit volunteers are required to get the three clearances.
- Unregistered volunteers that provide rides and services to youth more than once or twice a month must also get the three clearances. Remember the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not differentiate between registered and unregistered volunteers.
Under the law, all registered leaders are required to complete the clearance procedures listed below under "Clearances Required" and submit copies of the completed documents with any new adult volunteer application to the Council Service Center.
What If I Already Completed Clearances With Other Organizations?
New clearances to do not have to be completed if you have valid clearances that were done for another organization. Simply make a copy and provide it to Council Service Center for filing.
Wavier of State Mandated Background Checks
Registered individuals who volunteer with the BSA but have no responsibility for the welfare of or direct contact with children (e.g. committee members, board members) can submit a waiver exempting them from obtaining background clearances. If a waivered individual’s duties or position change, providing for direct contact with children, clearances must be obtained.
What Clearances are Required
The basic clearances are required:
-
PA State Police Criminal History
- Go to https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
- Select Volunteer on application to waive filing fee
Note: This clearance takes less than 5 minutes to compete and submit. Response time is a few minutes if no record exists and a printable record check is made available immediately. If a record exists, a review could take up to 2-3 weeks and a response will be mailed to the address provided.
-
PA Department of Human Services Clearance
- Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
- Select Volunteer on application to waive filing fee
Note: This clearance takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and once submitted can take up to 14 days for a response by e-mail (you are also given the option to have the clearance mailed to you). Before you start, you should have the following information readily available to help you complete your application:
- Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers (if you HAVE been a PA resident for 10 consecutive years)
-- OR --
- FBI Fingerprint Criminal History (only if you HAVE NOT been a PA resident for 10 consecutive years)
Clearances can be completed online with the exception of the fingerprinting which requires on-line registration and a visit to a designated fingerprinting site. There is a fee to complete this clearance.
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- Addresses where you have previously lived since 1975
- Names of all individuals with whom you have lived to include parents, guardians, siblings, spouses, etc. since 1975
- Any previous names you have used or have been known by.
The provider is IDEMIA and their locations are called IndentoGO Centers. Volunteers needing to obtain the FBI fingerprint-based background check should begin the process by visiting Idemia’s website using this link – www.identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania – and then follow the steps below:
- Click on Digital Fingerprinting. On the next screen, enter the Service Code, which is: 1KG6ZJ.
- Click on Schedule or Manage Appointment.
- Click on Locate an Enrollment Center firstto find the location for providing your fingerprints that is closest to you, then go back to the Schedule an Appointment option. The company is continuing to add new fingerprinting locations.
- Follow the prompts for completing the required information and printing the registration form to take to the fingerprinting location.
REMEMBER THIS CLEARANCE IS ONLY REQUIRED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR 10 CONTINUOUS YEARS.
Note: As of July 25, 2015 the PA Legislature has waived all fees for PA child abuse clearances for Volunteer applicants. Upon marking the volunteer button on the appropriate website, a fee will not be assessed. This does not apply to the FBI Fingerprinting Criminal History because it is a federal clearance.
For More Information
If you would like more information on the legislation or have additional questions please visit:
http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov
or contact the Council Service Center.