Rep. GiaQuinta introduced HB 1522 which would require overnight camps to be licensed and require criminal background checks for employees and volunteers of the camps. An “overnight camp” means “any area or tract of land established, operated, or maintained to provide more than seventy-two (72) continuous hours of outdoor group living experiences away from established residences for: (1) educational; (2) recreational; (3) sectarian; or (4) health purposes to ten (10) or more children who are less than eighteen (18) years of age and not accompanied by a parent or guardian.” The state division of family resources is directed to create rules for the licensing and inspection of such camp. The main thrust of the provision is to require that the people running those camps and employees and volunteers who have direct contact with the kids are required to pass a national criminal history background check.
Makes sense to me. But, I’m biased in that I was once involved on the periphery of a lawsuit having to do with a kid who was sexually abused by a volunteer at a camp.
All reputable operations already require extensive background tests for employees and volunteers already, so this is kind of moot,
I should think that folks who run those facilities would already make criminal background checks part of any job application. It’s not just protecting kids. It protects the people who run the places.