Pa. House Votes To Tweak Background Check Requirements For Those Who Work With Children
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- The state House has sent the Senate a bill designed to ease some background check requirements for people who work with children in Pennsylvania.
The bill approved by the House is in response to the concerns of organizations that work with children about background check requirements that were based on a task force formed after the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The House voted for the bill despite concerns on behalf of some members, including Montgomery County Republican Todd Stephens, who feel the bill goes too far in exempting personnel at higher education facilities who don't interact with students under age 16.
"I think that was a mistake… I think it rolls back some of the protections that the task force intended, and frankly, this legislature intended when we adopted the bills last session. And I certainly would hope that the Senate would take action to remove that provision."
Just last week Governor Wolf announced that fees for some mandatory background checks will be waived or reduced.