Enacted into law in 2015, PA Act 15 is designed to ensure the safety of our children through more complete and thorough background checks and clearances. More information about the PA law and how our BSA Council, New Birth of Freedom, is implementing this can be found at http://newbirthoffreedom.org/palaw/.
What does this mean?
All registered leaders (Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Den Leaders and Assistant Den Leaders) and all registered volunteers are required to complete three (3) background clearances, listed below, and renew those clearances every 60 months.
Additionally, non-registered volunteers (parents, relatives, friends, and community leaders who might help out units on occasion or who might volunteer at an event) may also be required to complete this these clearances. The non-registered category is a little more complex and further information is found on the New Birth of Freedom's website.
Why is this required by Pack 198?
Three simple reasons:
What do I need to do?
Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below:
What does this mean?
All registered leaders (Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Den Leaders and Assistant Den Leaders) and all registered volunteers are required to complete three (3) background clearances, listed below, and renew those clearances every 60 months.
Additionally, non-registered volunteers (parents, relatives, friends, and community leaders who might help out units on occasion or who might volunteer at an event) may also be required to complete this these clearances. The non-registered category is a little more complex and further information is found on the New Birth of Freedom's website.
- Adult Partners: Because these individuals are participating in the BSA program as a parent, they are not considered volunteers and clearances are NOT required.
- Adults who stay occasionally at a meeting to help out: Clearances are NOT required, unless participation becomes a weekly occurrence.
- Adults attending events where every Scout must participate with their parent(s): Clearances are NOT required.
- Parents helping with fundraisers (Show and Sell Popcorn and/or store front sales): If the parent will be or could be responsible for a child other than their own, clearances are REQUIRED.
- Parents attending events with their child where other youth members are attending without their own parents: Clearances are REQUIRED as parents may be acting in lieu of another child's parent and will have routine interaction and direct contact with youth.
Why is this required by Pack 198?
Three simple reasons:
- To continue and better assure that Pack 198 is a safe environment for our children to learn and grow through scouting;
- To easily allow every parent and scout the opportunity to choose to attend a BSA-sponsored camp or pack outing going forward;
- To make leadership succession significantly easier, as all volunteers will require these clearances.
What do I need to do?
Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below:
- Complete the Report of Criminal History from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
- Complete the Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services, www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
- This step depends on your residency in PA. Complete one of the following below based on your PA residency:
- Volunteers who have resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years can submit a Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers in lieu of the Fingerprint based FBI Clearance.
- If you have not resided in PA for the last 10 years, then a fingerprint based FBI criminal history clearance must be submitted through the Department of Human Services, www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpwNew.htm
- Once the above steps are completed, upload ALL documents to the New Birth of Freedom Council (NBOF) at http://tinyurl.com/qc6fhfm Please note the following information for submission: District = Pioneer; Committee Chair = Lyndsay Wilderson / lyndsay.wilderson@yahoo.com
- After processing at NBOF, you will receive a certification of clearances. Once received, please email your PDF certification of completion to Chris Brixius.