This bill establishes the Youth Serving Organization Central Registry, which will serve as a centralized system for conducting and managing criminal history record background checks for employees and volunteers of youth serving organizations. The bill amends existing law to define a youth serving organization as any sports team, league, athletic association, or similar entity that provides activities or services for individuals under 18 years of age, excluding public and nonpublic schools. To participate in the central registry, organizations must register with the Department of Law and Public Safety and pay a registration fee. The central registry will request background checks through the State Bureau of Identification, which will examine its own files and coordinate with federal authorities, ensuring that checks are conducted only with the written consent of the individuals involved.

Additionally, the bill mandates that each current employee or volunteer undergo a background check at least once every two years, with the central registry retaining records of their qualification status. The division will inform organizations of any disqualifying convictions revealed in the background checks, and the registry will be updated accordingly. The bill maintains existing disqualifiers for employment or volunteer positions based on criminal history, including offenses involving danger to persons, family, or children, as well as theft and controlled substances. The Attorney General is tasked with adopting regulations to ensure uniform disqualification criteria and the proper dissemination of information obtained from these background checks.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15A:3A-1, 15A:3A-2, 15A:3A-3, 15A:3A-4, 15A:3A-5