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Nonprofits and emergency responders say background check costs are crippling
May 12, 2015 posted by Steve Brownstein
Local emergency responders and nonprofit organizations say they support recent laws designed to prevent child abuse, but they’re finding the cost of background checks to be crippling.
“If you’re in emergency services, you’re not here to make money,” Susquehanna Township Fire Chief George Drees said. “You’re here to protect people.’
But firefighters say there’s a price tag in the way now that more people are required to get background checks.
State police criminal record checks are $10. Child abuse history clearances are also $10 each, along with $27.50 for FBI background checks. The total is $47.50 per person. So, an organization like Susquehanna Township’s fire department can spend as much as $7,125 on 150 background checks for employees and administrative personnel.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow for the fire service,” Drees said.
It doesn’t go down any easier for nonprofit organizations like The Salvation Army.
“What was intended to be a good thing – and it is a good thing – is backfiring on those who are trying to provide the programs and services to the most vulnerable populations,” said Major John Griner, CEO of The Salvation Army Harrisburg.
So, the choice is asking volunteers to pony up and risk turning them away or picking up the tab and butting other services. The Salvation Army says Harrisburg volunteer background checks alone will cost $55,000.
“We equate that to 22,000 meals, 1,222 children who are not going to get services like food clothing, other needs that they have if we’re going to have to shell out this money,” Griner said.
Proposed House Bill 711 would make state background checks free for volunteers. House Bill 1081 would cover firefighters and EMS. Both would pass the cost along to State Police and the Department of Human Services.
“It’s going to cost somebody something at the end of the day,” Griner said.
But there’s strong support for the big picture.
“Those background checks are essential,” Griner said. “The question is, who’s going to fund it?”
Pennsylvania State Police and the Department of Human Services were questioned what they had to say about potentially absorbing those costs. State police said this is all too new to analyze and Human Services said it can’t comment on pending legislation.
