On June 10, Governor Wolf announced that beginning July 25, 2015, the $20.00 fee for criminal background checks required pursuant to the Child Protective Services Law will be waived for any volunteers working with children. The fee for all other non-volunteer applicants will be reduced from $10.00 to $8.00. Any applicant who has not been a continuous resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the last ten (10) years must obtain an FBI criminal history check, and that fee, $27.50, has not been waived or reduced.
This waiver and reduction comes in light of concerns that the fee for the criminal background check was deterring many individuals from volunteering to work with children. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will debate several changes to the Child Protective Services Law beginning Monday, June 15, 2015. Contact an attorney in Stock and Leader’s Municipal Group to find out how Governor Wolf’s announcement affects your municipality.