Under the new law—the Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III Child Protection act—private school, youth camp other child-serving program employees, volunteers or contractors would be required to undergo a state-mandated fingerprint-based national criminal background check. Previously, this practice was not required for private entities, only for public school and year-round child care facility employees.
Any felony sexual assault convictions or misdemeanor convictions for a crime against a child would bar an individual from working at any of the entities covered under the new law.
Private schools and camps operated by private schools have the option of not adhering to the more stringent background check policy, but if they choose to do so they must inform parents of their decision to forego the checks and obtain the parents’ signatures. Violating the law’s requirements could result in fines of up to $5,000 for each violation.
The full text of the law, which will go into effect April 7, 2016, can be found here.
Source: delawareonline.com, 8/11/2015
Posted: August 18, 2015