PA Act 153
Questions about what you need to do? Please contact Sharon Miller.
The Pennsylvania Law ACT 153 was signed into law on October 22, 2014.
This Act requires:
- Comprehensive criminal and child abuse background checks.
- Broader, regularly updated background checks applicable to paid employees and volunteers (churches).
- This new PA law extends beyond paid employees so that it is applicable to those unpaid volunteers responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children.
Children are defined as youth under the age of 18
The Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) defines “direct contact with children” as “The care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children.”
PA law will now require that prospective employees and volunteers obtain the following background checks (fees may apply and are subject to change):
- Criminal History Record Information (free for volunteers)
- Child Abuse Clearance obtained through the PA Department of Public Welfare (now known as the Department of Human Services) (free for volunteers)
- Federal Criminal History Record Information obtained by submitting a full set of fingerprints to the PA State Police or its authorized agent for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation “for the purpose of verifying the identity of the applicant and obtaining a current record of any criminal arrests and convictions.”
An exception related to the federal background check:
The FBI check may be waived for a prospective unpaid volunteer if they have been a resident of this Commonwealth during the entirety of the previous ten-year period” and the volunteer “swears or affirms in writing” that they have not been convicted of any crime, in another state, similar to the convictions disqualifying a person in PA.
Effective Date:
Volunteers will be required to obtain required PA background checks beginning July 1, 2015 with updated checks required every 60 months (5 years), as per recent amendments.
How do I get the clearances?
See below. If you have questions, contact Sharon Miller.
Particulars to Camp Hill
Who needs it?
- All teachers involved with youth under the age of 18, teaching class or providing child care at any level.
- Anyone who wishes to be involved in any manner with the Camp Hill youth program at any level (Bible Bowl, Mid-South Tour, Lads to Leaders, outings, events, etc.)
- Summer Bible camps are addressed separately from Camp Hill
What is needed?
- All three clearance checks with the possible exception of the Federal Criminal History check if resident of PA 10 years or longer
- If resident of PA 10 years or longer -- signed affidavit Download the affidavit
- Here are the websites:
FBI fingerprinting for those who have not lived in PA for 10 consecutive years.
Provide all clearance results to Sharon Miller.