Changes mulled to law on child-related background checks
HARRISBURG (AP) – A Pennsylvania legislative committee is about to consider whether to make changes to a new state law that requires background checks for people who work with children.
The House Children and Youth Committee on Monday will take up a proposal designed to make the checks less of a burden so that organizations don’t end up having to cut programs for children because of fewer volunteers.
The proposal limits the checks to those with direct contact with children who routinely interact with them.
It’ll make the checks apply for all types of work with children, so employees and volunteers don’t have to produce duplicate checks.
Pennsylvania enacted more vigorous checks in response to the Jerry Sandusky and cleric child abuse scandals.