California Assembly Bill 506

 

AB 506, the Youth service organizations: child abuse and neglect prevention bill, which was approved by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021, is set to become effective January 1, 2022.

 

• Requires any administrator, employee, or regular volunteer (volunteering more than 16 hours in a month or 32 hours in a year), of a youth service organization to complete training in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect, as specified.

 

o This requirement may be met by completing the online mandated reporter training provided by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services. The Mandated Reporter Website has options for free training.

 

• Requires any administrator, employee, or regular volunteer of a youth service organization to undergo a fingerprint-based background check, as specified.

 

• The background check must be conducted in accordance with CA Penal Code Sect. 11105.3.

• Fingerprint background checks may be done through Live Scan. There are Live Scan locations located throughout the state.

• Fees: Here is a chart with the state and federal background check fees: applicant fingerprint processing fees,

 

Volunteers (nonprofit)

 

• State $0, federal $15

 

Volunteers (for profit)

 

• State $32, federal $15

 

Employees (nonprofit)

 

• State $0, federal $17

 

Employees (for profit)

 

• State $32, federal $17

 

These fees are in addition to rolling fees.

 

• Please note: While a state background check is required, a federal check is recommended for staff and volunteers who have lived or worked in other states.

• To receive the background check information, your organization must apply to be an Applicant Agency, under Step Two (2), choose Youth Organization and Human Resources ONLY authorization request packet

 

 

Requires a youth service organization to develop and implement child abuse prevention policies and procedures. Those policies and procedures must:
 

• Ensure the reporting of suspected incidents of child abuse to persons or entities outside of the organization and include the reporting required by CA Penal Code Section 11165.9.

• Policies requiring, to the greatest extent possible, the presence of at least two mandated reporters whenever administrators, employees, or volunteers are in contact with, or supervising, children.

• In addition, the bill authorizes an insurer to request information demonstrating compliance with these provisions from a youth service organization before writing liability insurance for a youth service organization.