LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE

Dear Troop 12 Families, 

As you are hopefully aware by now, Pennsylvania enacted PAAct 153 into law in October 2014 which is designed to increase the safety ofchildren by requiring background checks and child abuse clearances for allvolunteers and staff who are responsible for children.  This law impacts all organizations who serveyouth, including the Boy Scouts of America. The Troop Committee is providing this letter to our Troop 12 families sothat you understand the impacts to our Troop and the volunteers who help thescouts as they follow the journey to Eagle.

The Troop Committee appreciates the many ways that familiesvolunteer their time and efforts and hope that the requirements passed down byPennsylvania will not deter those efforts from continuing.

Minsi Trails Council has provided information to each unitoutlining the requirements.  Understandthat this is not originating as a Troop 12 policy, an Asbury UMC policy, oreven a BSA policy, but a PA State Law. We are working within the framework of the law, which may be furtheradjusted by the legislators and/or Governor.

What clearances are required?

·        PA State Police Criminal History – no cost forvolunteers  https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp

·        PA Dept. of Human Services Child Abuse Clearance– no cost for volunteers  https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS

·        Either

o  FBI fingerprint based Federal Criminal History($27.50 fee)  https://www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpw.htm

o  Minsi Trails Council Disclosure Statement forVolunteers Affidavit if you have been a continuous resident of Pennsylvania forthe entire past 10 years – no cost  (seeattached)

When must clearances be completed?

·        Clearances must be provided to the Troop by theend of calendar 2015, as we must have them in advance of rechartering.

Who must have clearances?

·        Adult volunteers who are acting in lieu of, oron behalf of a parent by providing care, supervision, guidance, or control ofchildren, or having regular, ongoing contact with children that is integral totheir volunteer responsibilities.  Thisincludes:

o  Uniformed leaders (Scoutmaster and AssistantScoutmasters);

o  Merit Badge Counselors

o  Registered leaders that interact with the scouts– Committee Chair, Advancement Chair, Fundraising Chair

o  Parents that have oversight of scouts, thiswould include:

§ All parents on a campout;

§ All parents driving scouts – to/from a campoutor activity

·        As these same clearances are required forvolunteering with other organizations involving our youth (sports, school,church, etc.), if you have the clearances, please provide them to us.

How do I submit the clearances?

·        Each volunteer will need to present the originalclearance documents to our designated individual for “viewing” purposes andthen provide a copy of the original documents for submission to Council.

How often are these required?

·        Clearances are required every 3 years.

Thank you for your attention to this new requirement.  If you have any questions, please feel freeto contact Brian or Anne-Marie and we will do our best to answer your question.

Sincerely,

Anne-Marie Kane                                                                         BrianHarman

Troop 12 Committee Chair                                                           Troop12 Scoutmaster

HELPFUL HINTS

Organization Name & Phone Number:           Boy Scouts of America Minsi Trails Council - (610) 264-8551

USEFUL LINKS

• PA State Police Criminal History
  
• PA Dept. of Human Services Child Abuse Clearance
  
• Minsi Trails Council Disclosure Statement

Only use the following IF AND ONLY IF you have NOT been a continuous resident of Pennsylvania for the entire past 10 years

• FBI fingerprint based Federal Criminal History