Who's impacted?
The PA legislature passed 22 new pieces of legislation in 2014 related to child protection. The links below will take you to an analysis of the more notable legislative changes, including:
Act 153 (HB435)
All adults (paid or unpaid) who are responsible for the welfare of a child or have direct contact with a child are impacted by the new clearance requirements.
Act 33 (SB21)
The list of mandated reporters in Pennsylvania was significantly expanded through the broadening of definitions; the list now includes virtually everyone who participates in a program that serves children, whether paid or unpaid.
Act 31 (HB431)
A specific subset of professional licensees is now required to complete a state-approved training that addresses indicators of abuse and the Pennsylvania requirements for reporting abuse.
Act 168 (HB1816)
This legislation creates the requirement and provides the process for school entities to conduct a mandatory 'employment history review' for any prospective employee prior to hiring.
PHLY, in partnership with the esteemed Abuse Prevention Systems, is offering two resources to help you understand these new PA state laws. We encourage you to review these documents which explain the new requirements, define terms, and answer questions.
PA Law Changes: New Requirements for Organizations Serving Children
FAQs: PA House Bill 435 Volunteer Screening
IMPORTANT NOTICE - The information and suggestions presented by Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company in this e-brochure is for your consideration in your loss prevention efforts. They are not intended to be complete or definitive in identifying all hazards associated with your business, preventing workplace accidents, or complying with any safety related, or other, laws or regulations. You are encouraged to alter them to fit the specific hazards of your business and to have your legal counsel review all of your plans and company policies.