Volunteers and staff members of organizations dealing with children must have two clearances: one from the state Department of Human Services (child abuse) and one from Pennsylvania State Police (criminal).
Heritage United Methodist Church, Ligonier, has about 45 persons with clearances, according to secretary Beth Lenhart. Each clearance has cost $10, paid for by the volunteer/staff member or the organization. The cost of Heritage Church's clearances has been $900 — $20 times 45. As a volunteer children's worker and former Children's Trust Fund grant director, I considered this cost troublesome, especially for volunteers or organizations with limited funds.
State Sen. Michele Brooks, R-50th District, chairwoman of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, and a bicameral, bipartisan group of legislators successfully addressed this financial concern. Gov. Wolf announced that as of July 25, the state would waive volunteers' clearance fees and reduce the fee for other clearance applicants by $2.
This action removes an effect of the mandated background checks that “went far beyond what was intended,” said Brooks. It relieves the financial burden on organizations providing special services and programs for many community segments, and on individuals seeking to volunteer or to be employed by these organizations. I commend Brooks and others for resolving this issue.
Carolyn Cornell Holland
Laurel Mountain
