Jun 21, 2015 3 min read

Pennsylvania’s Legislature is now considering a bill to waive the fee for state criminal and child abuse background checks required under recent amendments to the Child Protective Services Law for volunteers who work with children.

Amendments to the law, which took effect in December, require volunteers who routinely work or interact with those under the age of 18 to be designated as “mandatory reporters” of suspected child abuse and to complete state criminal and child abuse background checks every three years.

Volunteers who work with children and who have resided in the state less than 10 years also are required to receive an FBI criminal background check clearance.

Included among those who must obtain the clearances are volunteer firefighters who regularly work with children and emergency medical service providers certified by the state Department of Health.

A bill to waive the state fees for emergency responders was co-sponsored by state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, and state Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane.

Language in that proposed legislation was later included in another bill that is expected to be voted on for final passage in the House.

We believe waiving the fee for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders is important, given the financial difficulties many volunteer fire departments face and the problems they have attracting members.

The fee is now $10 for the criminal background check from state police and $10 for the child abuse history clearance from the state Department of Human Services. The FBI clearance is $27.50.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced two weeks ago he would waive the fee for volunteers beginning July 25; however, the Legislature wants to codify that in law, Snyder said, to make it permanent.

We agree it should be permanent. Having to pay for clearances to volunteer with a local fire department is hardly an inducement to become a member and for many fire companies, particularly in rural areas, members are sorely needed.

If the fees are covered by the fire companies, the amount fire companies would have to budget each year just for clearances would quickly add up.

The amendments to the Child Protective Services Law came about in response to the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. Many local volunteer fire departments fall into the category requiring clearances because they have junior firefighters’ programs or have youth assisting them in activities such as bingo and other fundraisers. Some companies also operate ambulance services and have emergency medical services personnel who are required to have the clearances.

Under the law, all fire departments also have to adopt written policy requiring emergency medical services personnel to receive clearances and to identify those who may have regular contact with children.

Volunteers prohibited from working with children include those who been identified as a perpetrator in a substantiated child abuse case or convicted of sex crimes or serious felonies. This includes those convicted of felony drug offenses within the last five years.

We find nothing wrong with requiring the background checks for volunteers who routinely work with children. We do have a problem with the fees, especially when someone who is willing to give freely of his time, is now asked to give more.

We agree with Snyder, who summed up the issue when she announced the initial legislation:

“Pennsylvania relies on volunteer firefighters and emergency responders more than any other state, and we should not jeopardize their crucial service with burdensome fees,” she said.

“We need to be encouraging such contributions to our communities and not placing financial barriers on such sacrifices.”