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AK

Bill

A 1611

Establishes central registry for background checks of youth serving organization employees and volunteers.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrea Katz and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a central registry to standardize and share background-check results for adults involved with youth-serving organizations.

Reported and Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1611

Summary: Assembly Bill A-1611 – Youth Serving Organization Central Registry for Background Checks

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a centralized registry within the Department of Law and Public Safety to collect and share information from criminal history background checks of employees and volunteers who work with youth-serving organizations.
  • Streamline and standardize background checks across participating organizations, replacing the current, more decentralized process.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of the Youth Serving Organization Central Registry (the central registry) as a clearinghouse for background-check information.
  • Eligible participants: any sports team, league, athletic association, or other organization serving persons under 18 (excluding public and nonpublic schools). An organization need not be a nonprofit to participate.
  • Participation requirements: organizations must register with the department and pay a registration fee determined by the department.
  • Background checks:
    • The central registry will request criminal history background checks for all prospective and current employees or volunteers of participating organizations, using the State Police SBI and coordination with federal authorities as needed.
    • Checks require written consent from the individual.
    • Individuals bear the costs of their background checks; fees cannot exceed the actual cost of performing the check.
    • Checks are conducted at least once every two years for current employees/volunteers.
  • Central registry operations:
    • The registry retains records showing each individual’s qualification status.
    • Participating organizations can verify an individual’s status by telephone or via a secure department-maintained website.
    • The division must inform a participating organization if a person’s background check reveals a disqualifying crime and must update the central registry status accordingly.
    • If a current employee/volunteer is disqualified, the division must inform other known organizations where the person is employed or volunteering.
  • Disqualifying offenses: mirrors existing disqualifications under current law, including crimes involving danger to others, crimes against family/children, theft, or certain controlled substances, with state-specific and cross-jurisdictional applicability. Excludes the ability of excluded sex offenders to serve in these roles.
  • Process and oversight:
    • The Attorney General coordinates the background checks and may exchange fingerprint data with federal and state agencies as needed.
    • The Attorney General annually certifies the cost per background check to the State Treasurer.
  • Definitions and statutory alignment: The bill amends P.L.1999, c.432 to codify the central registry, update the definition of “youth serving organization,” and revise procedures for background checks and disclosures.

Affected entities and individuals

  • Prospective and current employees/volunteers of participating youth-serving organizations.
  • Youth-serving organizations (including sports teams/leagues/associations) that provide activities or services to individuals under 18.
  • State agencies and law enforcement (SBI, FBI/Identification, and related offices) involved in conducting checks and sharing data.

Timeline and status

  • Introduced: January 10, 2025.
  • Originally reported favorably by the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee on October 21, 2024.
  • Currently: referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (status as of latest available data). Sponsor: Linda Rosenthal.

Related context

  • Parallel and companion bills exist (e.g., S- and A- counterparts) and prior-session provisions (A 10710, A 2153) are related.
  • The bill includes changes required by technical review and aligns with existing background-check frameworks while centralizing administration.

This bill would significantly standardize and centralize background-check processes for adults working with youth organizations, with ongoing monitoring and clear disclosure to participating entities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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