[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Paramus as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 7-11-2018 by Ord. No. 18-17]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A determination of whether a person has a criminal record
by cross-referencing that person's name and fingerprints with
those on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification
Division, and/or the New Jersey State Bureau of Identification in
the Division of State Police.
Any program sponsored by the municipality of Paramus, including
any municipal employees, volunteer organizations created by the municipality,
and all leagues, boards, committees and commissions affiliated with,
falling within the purview, or acting for or on behalf of the municipality
of Paramus and having contact with persons under the age of 18 years.
The Borough of Paramus, in the County of Bergen, State of
New Jersey.
Any youth program not sponsored by the municipality of Paramus
but that utilizes municipal facilities or has affiliation with a municipal-sponsored
youth program and has contact with persons under the age of 18 years.
Any program that allows for participation in activities by
those persons under 18 years of age. Activities may include, but are
not limited to, sporting or athletic activities, passive recreation
groups, clubs or camps and trips or other activities whereby some
control and responsibility for children is assigned to some person
acting for or on behalf of a municipal-sponsored youth program or
nonsponsored youth program, other than a parent or caregiver.
A.
Prior to any club or organization, not defined as a "municipal-sponsored
youth program," being authorized to use municipal-owned facilities
for functions participated in by children, all adults, those persons
18 years of age or older, in any way assisting in the function, including,
but not limited to, coaches, assistant coaches, or similar positions,
must provide the municipal Chief of Police or designee, or other chief
law enforcement officer of the municipality, with findings of a criminal
history background check obtained from the State Bureau of Identification
in the New Jersey State Police.
B.
The submission of background check findings must be based upon a
check performed within three years of the start of use of the municipal-owned
facility. In the case of coaches performing duties as employees of
a school district, the policy of background checks adopted by the
individual school district shall be used to establish eligibility
for use of municipal-owned facilities. In all cases the background
check must comply with the provisions of any applicable laws regarding
same, but not less-detailed than those performed by the municipality
for individuals involved in administering municipal-sponsored youth
programs. All fees for individuals administering a non-municipal-sponsored
program shall be borne by the individual or program with which they
are participating.
A.
All adults, those persons 18 years of age or older, including, but
not limited to, coaches, assistant coaches, or similar positions,
involved in educating, directing or supervising youth, and in any
way assisting in a municipal-sponsored function participated in by
children, shall submit sufficient information on forms supplied by
the municipal Police Department or other enforcement authority from
the New Jersey State Police, for the purpose of obtaining a criminal
history background check with the State Bureau of Identification in
the New Jersey State Police. Applications for background checks shall
be processed by the municipal Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement
authority of the municipality.
B.
Based upon the memorandum of understanding executed between the municipality
of Paramus and the New Jersey State Police, the individual applying
for the background check shall authorize the municipal Chief of Police
or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality to be the
recipient of the response from the State Police based upon the findings
of the background check. Individuals involved in a municipal-sponsored
youth function, and who are required to undergo background checks
based upon this article, shall not be responsible for the costs involved
with obtaining the criminal background check. The municipality shall
bear the costs for the background checks for the individuals qualified
under this section.
C.
All league officers and/or those individuals in charge of each recreation
program are required to ensure compliance with this article for that
league or program. The president or leader of each recreation program
shall file an annual roster of individuals that are required to participate
in the background check procedures of this article. The roster shall
be on forms supplied by the municipality and shall contain a certification
as to the accuracy and completeness of the roster and individual names.
Any person who knowingly certifies a background check roster that
excludes an individual required to be checked shall be in violation
of this article and laws regarding false swearing.
A.
Individuals engaged in providing recreation opportunities for, or
on behalf of, the municipality of Paramus shall be issued identification
cards with appropriate expirations based upon the date of their individual
background check. Individuals issued identification cards are required
to display their card while in performance of their duty involving
youth programs.
A.
Upon receipt of a completed background check conducted by the State Bureau of Identification in the New Jersey State Police and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division, the municipal Chief of Police or designee, or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality, shall notify the applicant and the president or leader of the recreation program of affirmative or negative results. The determination of the municipal Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer is based upon Subsection B of this section. Details in the background check that result in a negative determination by the State Police are not afforded to the municipal Chief of Police and are only available to the applicant upon making a formal request to the State Bureau of Investigation.
B.
In the event the criminal background check reveals any prior convictions
for crimes or offenses which negatively impact the health, safety
and welfare of children, said person shall not be qualified to participate
in any official capacity in any function for persons under the age
of 18 years held at any Borough-owned facilities. Such offenses shall
include, but not to be limited to:
(1)
In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons' offense:
(a)
Involving danger to the person, meaning those crimes and disorderly
persons' offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 et seq., such
as criminal homicide; N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 et seq., such as assault, reckless
endangerment, threats, stalking; N.J.S.A.2C:13-1 et seq., such as
kidnapping; N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq., such as sexual assault; or N.J.S.A.
2C:15-1 et seq., such as robbery.
(b)
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those
crimes and disorderly persons' offenses set forth in N.J.S.A.
2C:24-1 et seq., such as endangering the welfare of a child.
(c)
Involving theft as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the
New Jersey Statutes.
(d)
Involving any controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as set forth in Chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, except Paragraph (4) of Subsection a of N.J.S.A 2C:35-10.
(e)
Any 4th degree offense or higher.
(2)
In any other state or jurisdiction, conduct which, if committed in
New Jersey, would constitute any of the crimes or disorderly persons'
offenses described in this section.
C.
The list of crimes and violations contained in this section is for
illustrative purposes only and shall not be construed as a limitation
on those criminal activities or violations that would be grounds to
disqualify a person from assisting with youth-related activities as
indicated herein.
D.
Refusal by individuals required to submit to background checks will
result in an immediate dismissal of the individual from any municipal-sponsored
activities requiring background checks. In addition, refusal to comply
with this article by any individual falling within the scope of requirements
for nonsponsored youth programs will forfeit that individual's
ability to participate with the respective program. Refusal of a non-municipal-sponsored
youth program to subscribe to the requirements of this article shall
forfeit that program's ability to use municipal facilities.
A.
All nonsponsored youth programs that have individuals subject to
this article shall supply background checks for all of their participants
prior to the individual being able to participate at any function
at a municipal-owned facility to the extent covered by this article.
Thereafter, every three years a new background check shall be submitted
to the Chief of Police, Municipal Administrator or Municipal Solicitor.
B.
All municipal-sponsored youth programs that have individuals subject
to this article shall direct those individuals to the Chief of Police
for background checks prior to the individual being able to participate
at any function sponsored by the municipality of Paramus. Thereafter,
every three years a new background check shall be submitted to the
municipal Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer.
C.
Individuals involved in municipal-sponsored youth programs who are
required to undergo background checks shall be given an interim approval
for participation only after submission to the Division of State Police
for a background check. Interim approvals shall only be valid for
the period of time that it takes to receive background check results.
Such interim approval shall not be valid for a period of time exceeding
45 days. Only one interim approval may be granted per individual.
A.
Any person whose criminal history background check disqualifies that
person from employment or from volunteering may appeal his or her
disqualification.
(1)
Appeal re: accuracy of record. A person may challenge the accuracy
of the criminal history record.
(a)
A challenge to the accuracy of the report shall be filed with
the municipal Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer,
who shall coordinate the challenge with the New Jersey State Police.
(2)
Appeal alleging rehabilitation. A person may claim to be rehabilitated.
(a)
No person may appeal a disqualification on the grounds of rehabilitation,
if convicted of a 4th degree offense or higher, if the person has
been disqualified because that person has been convicted, adjudicated
delinquent or acquitted by reason of insanity of aggravated sexual
assault; sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual contact; kidnapping
pursuant to Paragraph (2) of Subsection c of N.J.S.A. 2C13:1; endangering
the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair
or debauch the morals of the child pursuant to Subsection a of N.J.S.A.
2C:24-4; endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to Paragraph
(4) of Subsection b of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4; luring or enticing pursuant
to Section 1 of P.L. 1993, c.291 (N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6); criminal sexual
contact pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b if the victim is a minor; kidnapping
pursuant to N.J.S.A 2C:13-2, or false imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.A.
2C:13-3 if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent
of the victim; knowingly promoting prostitution of a child pursuant
to Paragraph (3) or Paragraph (4) of Subsection b of N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1;
or an attempt to commit any of these enumerated offenses.
(b)
Appeals committee. An appeal based on rehabilitation shall be
made to an appeals committee, which shall consist of the Chief of
Police, the president or administrator of the municipal recreation
program and the municipal Attorney. Any such appeal must be made within
30 days of receipt of the notice of disqualification.
(c)
Rehabilitation criteria. In determining whether a person has
affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the appeals committee shall
consider the following factors:
[1]
The nature and responsibility of the position which the convicted
person would hold or has held, as the case may be;
[2]
The nature and seriousness of the offense;
[3]
The circumstances under which the offense occurred;
[4]
The date of the offense;
[5]
The age of the person when the offense was committed;
[6]
Whether the offense was an isolated or repeated incident;
[7]
Any social conditions which may have contributed to the offense;
and
[8]
Any other evidence of rehabilitation, including good conduct
in prison or the community, counseling or psychiatric treatment received,
acquisition of additional academic or vocational schooling, successful
participation in correctional work-release programs, or the recommendation
of those who have had the person under their supervision.
(d)
If the appeals committee determines that the disqualified person
has been successfully rehabilitated, if shall enter that person's
name on the list of qualified employees and volunteers maintained
by the municipal Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer
of the municipality.
A.
Any and all criminal background checks supplied to the municipal
Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer shall be filed
and maintained in a secure and locked cabinet or room and shall not
be available to the public. The Chief of Police or other chief law
enforcement officer of the municipality shall take appropriate steps
to safeguard such records. The records shall be exempt from public
disclosure under the common law or the New Jersey Right-to-Know Law.
The records shall only be retained for such period of time as is necessary
to serve their intended and authorized purpose and thereafter shall
be destroyed.
B.
Access to criminal history record information for noncriminal justice
purposes, including licensing and employment, is restricted to the
members of the review committee, as authorized by federal or state
statute, rule or regulation, executive order, local ordinance or resolution
regarding obtaining and disseminating of criminal history record information
obtained under this article.
C.
The review committee shall limit its use of criminal history record
information solely to the individual for which it was obtained, and
the criminal history record information furnished shall not be disseminated
to persons or organizations not authorized to receive the records
for authorized purposes. This information shall be limited solely
to the authorized purpose for which it was given, and it shall not
be disseminated to any unauthorized persons. Any person violating
federal or state regulations governing access to criminal history
records information may be subject to criminal and/or civil penalties.
A.
Failure to comply with this article may result in the municipality
withholding funding for the nonprofit youth-serving organization,
prohibiting the use of facilities, or withholding funding for facility
maintenance.
B.
Any individual who has been advised, verbally or in writing, of his/her
disqualification to participate and continues to participate, upon
conviction thereof in a proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction,
shall be subject to the following fines:
(1)
A fine of not less than $250 and not more than $2,500.
C.
Each continuing violation of this article shall constitute a separate
offense.
In the event that any portion of this article is found to be
invalid for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
judgement shall be limited in its effect only to that portion of the
article actually adjudged to be invalid, and the remaining portions
of this article shall be deemed severable therefrom and shall not
be affected.
Any ordinance provisions inconsistent with the provisions of
this article are repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
This article shall take effect immediately upon the approval
and publication of notice of adoption as provided by law.
