TO ALL Unit Leaders - TO ALL Unit Committee Chairs
 
Please review this advisory from Council :
 
Enclosed is the summary on the new Child Protection Legislation (PA Act 153)
 
PA Child Protection Legislation (PA Act 153)
LHC Coordinated Meeting Information Summary

Definitions 
A child is anyone under the age of 18 while an adult are those 18 years of age and older.
A mandated reporter is a paid or unpaid adult:
· That serves in an integral role in a regularly scheduled program, activity or service
· That accepts responsibility for a child
· That is a Scouting volunteer
· That is supervised or managed by a mandated reporter
· Who is an Independent contractor
Direct contact is the care, supervision, guidance or control of children; or routine interaction with children
 
Reporting Requirements
Immediate oral report to hotline or written report to electronic reporting system
Written report within 48 hours as prescribed by department
The basis for reporting is any reasonable cause to suspect child abuse. Mandated reporter must notify the person in charge and the Scout executive. The person in charge must cooperate with any investigation.
Immediate notification to Childline by phone or online.
Failure to report may result in felony or misdemeanor charges being filed, depending on circumstance.
Reporters have immunity from liability and retaliation for good-faith reporting of abuse. Intentional false reporting, however, is a second degree misdemeanor.
 
Those Requiring Clearance
All Paid Scouting Professionals
Registered Volunteers:
· Unit Leaders
· Charter Reps
· Commissioners
· District and Council Board members and members-at-large
· Those in training and advancement positions
· Program Staff
· Merit Badge Counselors
Unregistered Volunteers:
· Those driving children to a scouting activity or event where they will have direct contact within the event/activity
· Those supervising youth at resident or day camps
· Those serving as two-deep leadership
· "Tag-alongs" to an event
· Parents/others serving as member of the unit committee but have not submitted application
· Program staff helpers
· Those who "help out" at unit meetings or events
 
Those Not Requiring Clearance
Parents or other adults who attend and only observe (assigned no responsibility) at Pack/Den Meetings, Courts of Honor or other appropriate activity.
Guest speakers or skill instructors for meeting/activity. This is on the assumption that the registered leader will remain in supervisory control throughout the guest presentation.
 
Required Clearances
1) Report of criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)
2) Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services
3) Fingerprint based federal criminal history (FBI) submitted through the Pennsylvania State Police or its authorized agent
Note that #3 is NOT required if the position the volunteer is applying for is unpaid and the volunteer has been a Pennsylvania resident continuously for the past 10 years. If the person meets these two criteria, they can instead affirm in writing that they are not disqualified from service based upon a conviction of an offense.
Additionally, a registered volunteer who may be attending a college out of state could still be considered living continuously in PA if their permanent residence was not changed to an out-of-state address. In this case, they would not be subject to submit fingerprints but would be able to complete the form instead.
Clearances are paid for by the volunteer.
LHC will accept these clearances if the volunteer has already obtained them for a different organization.
A unit’s charter organization may require additional items beyond what is required by LHC.
Filing Clearances 
The volunteer should keep the original in a safe place
A copy of the clearances should be sent to LHC
Copies can be submitted electronically via the LHC web page (link below)

Timeline 
The above clearances must be obtained...
No Later than June 30, 2015 for current:
· District board members and members at large
· Unit, Round Table and Administrative Commissioners
· Merit Badge Counselors
Beginning July 1, 2015 for any new volunteer at any level prior to submitting application.
No Later than December 31, 2015 for current volunteers not already covered above.
These must be renewed every three (3) years
 
Obtaining Clearances
Links to the online sites for these clearances, along with other information, can be found on:     LHCBackground.org