[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:
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.
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.
