KEEP KIDS SAFE – CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAW (PA ACT 15) & ITS IMPACT ON VOLUNTEERS IN THE MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL

Suspect Child Abuse or neglect? Call Childline: 1-800-932-0313

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted the Child Protective Services Law in 2015. The intent of this law is to protect the youth of Pennsylvania. All youth serving organizations within the Commonwealth are covered under this law. Volunteers, registered and unregistered, in the Minsi Trails Council are affected in two ways; we are mandated child abuse reporters and required to provide background check clearances to the volunteering organization. 

Who is required to comply with the Pennsylvania Volunteer Law? Frequently Asked Questions

• Adult definitions
  • Volunteer: Act 15 required
    • 18 years of age and older, not a program participant.  
    • 18 – 20 year old registered in a Scouts BSA Unit.   
  • Program Participant: Act 15 not required
    • 18 years of age and older who are registered as participants in a BSA program.  Examples are Scouts BSA, Exploring, Venturing, Sea Scouts.  
• General Guidelines
  • Act 15 Clearances are required if a carpool is organized or drivers are recruited by the unit’s leaders. If organized guardian / parent to guardian / parent the clearances are not needed. 
  • Guardians / Parents helping with fundraisers – if the parent will be or could be responsible for a child other than their own then Act 15 clearances are required.
  • Clearances are not required for guardians / parents who stay occasionally at a meeting, unless their participation becomes supervisory of youth.
  • Renewals of PA Act 15 Clearances
    • All clearances are valid for 60 months from the initial request date (inception date).
    • Child Abuse History Clearance, the renewal window starts on the day after the 57 month. 
    • Criminal History from PA State Police, the renewal window starts on the day after the 57 month. 
    • Finger based FBI Criminal History Clearance, fees apply regardless of renewal window.
      • Disclosure Statement and Waiver Application, renewal window any time.  

Please review the information below and take the required action: