[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township of Washington (now Township of Robbinsville) 7-8-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-27. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
VOLUNTEER
A person who has direct, nonsupervised and ongoing interaction in the course of his/her service with minors. This includes, but is not limited to, a coach, assistant coach and manager of a team.
YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATION
Any corporation, association or other organization which provides recreational, cultural, charitable and social activities for persons younger than 18 years of age.
Any youth serving organization, as a condition of utilizing Township facilities, must have an officer of the organization annually certify by affidavit, subject to the penalty of perjury, that:
A. 
Each employee and volunteer has submitted to a state and federal criminal history background check which has been processed by the State Police in accordance with the statutes and regulations;
[Amended 4-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
B. 
That each employee and volunteer has been approved to work with youth by the State Police; and
C. 
That the criminal history background check of each employee and volunteer has been completed within three years of the date of the affidavit.
D. 
In lieu of the requirements of subsections A and B, each employee and volunteer has submitted to a state and federal criminal history background check which has been processed in accordance with the requirements set forth for Township employees, contractors, and volunteers by the Joint Insurance Fund of which the Township is a member.
[Added 4-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
A. 
The Township shall require any employee or a volunteer who interacts with minors of age directly, in a direct, nonsupervised and ongoing basis, prior to commencement of work or volunteer service, to submit to a state and federal criminal history background check. The required criminal history background check may be conducted by the State Police in accordance with statute and regulations. Each such employee or volunteer submitting to a criminal history background check conducted by the State Police must be approved by the State Police to work with youth. As an alternative, the required criminal history background check may be conducted in accordance with the requirements set forth for Township employees, contractors, and volunteers by the Joint Insurance Fund of which the Township is a member. The type of criminal history background check to be conducted shall be in the sole discretion of the Township.
[Amended 4-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
B. 
The Township Administrator in conjunction with the Chief of Police shall establish guidelines to implement this policy.
C. 
The Township will bear all costs associated with obtaining the state and federal criminal history background checks of Township employees and volunteers.
The Township shall not permit any exemptions to this policy.
In the event the State Police will not perform the criminal history background check for a youth group which utilizes Township facilities, the Township may submit the application for state and federal criminal history background checks on its behalf. The youth group shall pay all fees associated with the criminal history background checks.
Any violation of this chapter by a youth-serving organization is considered a serious threat to the health and life of the youth of the Township. As a result, upon violation, the Township may suspend or terminate use of Township facilities, and the youth-service organization and the officer who executed the affidavit shall be subject to fines and other penalties. In determining the remedy such factors as whether the breach was intentional, the severity of the noncompliance, and the good-faith steps taken to cure the violation should be considered.