Establishes central registry for background checks of youth serving organization employees and volunteers.
Impact
The implementation of A1832 is expected to provide a uniform standard for ensuring the safety of children engaged in activities offered by various youth serving organizations. By establishing a mandated procedure for background checks, the bill enhances the security measures that can be adopted regarding who is entrusted to work or volunteer with minors. Importantly, it retains the current disqualification criteria for individuals with certain types of criminal convictions that may pose risks to the safety of children.
Summary
Assembly Bill A1832 introduces the 'Youth Serving Organization Central Registry', which is designed to create a centralized process for conducting criminal history record background checks on employees and volunteers within youth serving organizations. This bill specifies that such organizations must register with the Department of Law and Public Safety to access this central registry and facilitate necessary background checks through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI). Additionally, it is stipulated that prospective employees and volunteers will bear the costs associated with these checks, although the fees will not exceed the actual cost incurred by the department.
Contention
Notably, the bill maintains the exclusions for specific criminal offenses, such as violent crimes, child abuse, or theft, potentially leading to discussions around the adequacy of these measures and their enforcement. Critics may argue about the financial burden placed on prospective employees and volunteers, as they are responsible for the costs associated with background checks. Moreover, the criteria defining a 'youth serving organization' is broad, which could lead to debates regarding what types of organizations should be subject to these regulations and the implications for those that do not fit the traditional nonprofit model.