On September 16, 2021, California legislation (AB506) was passed – effective January 1, 2022, concerning child sexual abuse prevention. The law creates requirements for ‘Youth Service Organizations’ related to training, background checks, and policies. As written in the bill, ‘Youth Service Organization’ arguably includes all child-serving organizations in California – including schools, camps, youth sports, etc.
California Assembly Bill 506 (AB506) is aimed at any ‘Youth Service Organization’ and focuses on requirements related to training, background checks and policies. A brief description of requirements stemming from AB506 follows: for more in-depth discussion concerning issues related to compliance, access the white paper created by the law firm of Love and Norris here.
Training
While ALL Youth Service Organizations should be providing training to paid staff members and volunteers, AB506 creates a legal requirement. Further, AB506 requires that Youth Service Organizations provide training regarding ‘child abuse and neglect’ identification and reporting. Training requirements must be broadened to include other forms of child maltreatment and specific processes for reporting child abuse and neglect in California.
To comply with AB506, Abuse Prevention Systems has added two additional Training segments for California Members: Maltreatment and California Reporting Requirements. These segments may be found in the California version of Sexual Abuse Awareness Training in the Training Library.
Background Checks
While all Youth Service Organizations should be performing Background Checks on all paid staff members and volunteers, AB506 makes it a requirement. More specifically, AB506 requires a specific search described in CA Penal Code Section 11105.3, which involves a search of California Department of Justice (DOJ) records. This requirement presents a handful of challenges, including limitations on information (no sex offender registry information or out-of-state criminal records) and lack of online integration into current data management systems. The more difficult challenge relates to the existing system for access to California DOJ records: the use of Live Scan, which requires a manual process involving forms and fingerprinting.
Given the limitations of information available through a Section 11105.3 search, we recommend an additional search through a separate vendor accessing additional information (i.e., sex offender registries, records from outside California, and more).
To learn more about AB506 Background Check requirements, access the above-mentioned white paper.
Policies
While all Youth Service Organizations should have Policies and Procedures in place to protect vulnerable populations, AB506 focuses on the requirement that Youth Service Organizations adhere to a two-adult rule, and implement a reporting process to ensure that information about abuse and neglect is reported outside the Organization when appropriate.
We offer a library of sample policy forms that address the two-adult rule, reporting requirements and much more.
Summary
For a more thorough evaluation of AB506, access the white paper referenced above here. For an in-depth analysis of the new law, please visit this page.
Contact an Abuse Prevention Systems representative to learn more about online Sexual Abuse Awareness Training, Skillful Screening Training, sample policies, sample screening forms, Background Checks, and Abuse Prevention Systems’ online system for management of each Safety System element.
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