Pennsylvania officials announced this week they will be waiving fees for child abuse clearances and criminal background checks required by the Child Protective Services Law for volunteers working with children.
According to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) will also be reducing the price of child abuse and criminal history record checks from $10 to $8 for all other applicants.
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The changes will go into effect July 25.
“My action today could not have been accomplished without the hard work of the General Assembly, who has participated in an ongoing bipartisan working group with the Administration in an effort to develop needed clarifications to the Child Protective Services Law,” said Gov. Wolf. “Through that process, the General Assembly expressed concerns of many members about the cost of background clearances, particularly for volunteers. I share those concerns, and that is why I am excited to announce these actions today.”
A press release from Wolf’s office notes FBI clearances will continue to be required for all employees and for volunteers who have not been a continuous resident of the commonwealth for the last 10 years.
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A comprehensive list of persons required to get clearances are as follows:
- Child care service employees;
- Foster parents and adult household members;
- Prospective adoptive parents and adult household members;
- Individuals 14 year of age or older applying for a paid position as an employee responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children;
- Any individual seeking or provide child-care services under contract with a child-care facility or program;
- School employees governed by public school code and those not governed by the public school code (colleges and universities).
For more information about clearances required under the Child Protective Services Law, visit keepkidssafe.pa.gov.
