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Bill

S 3016

Requires volunteers, employees, and organizers of certain youth and sports organizations to receive criminal history record background checks.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 4 co-sponsors

Expands annual mandatory criminal background checks for all staff and volunteers of youth-serving groups (including for-profits), with disqualifications and penalties for noncompli

Combined with S4043 (SCS)
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Bill Summary · S 3016

Bill Summary: S 3016 (New Jersey, 222nd Legislature)

Purpose and intent

  • Expand and standardize criminal history record background checks for individuals involved with youth-serving organizations.
  • Extend the requirement beyond nonprofit groups to for-profit youth-serving entities.
  • Increase accountability through annual checks, penalties for noncompliance, and criminal penalties for knowingly permitting or disregarding disqualifying individuals.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definition updates
    • Clarifies “youth serving organization” to include sports teams/leagues, athletic associations, private athletic lessons, and other organizations serving persons under 18, regardless of nonprofit status.
  • Background checks required
    • Requires every prospective and current employee, volunteer, and organizer of a youth-serving organization to undergo a criminal history record background check.
    • Checks are to be coordinated through the Department of Law and Public Safety, with the FBI and State Bureau of Identification cross-referencing fingerprints and records.
    • Checks must be conducted at least once per year for each employee/volunteer/organizer.
    • If a public or nonpublic school has already conducted a background check (e.g., under P.L.1986, c.116), that check may count for the year, provided proof is submitted to the youth-serving organization.
  • Cost and administration
    • The individual or organization bears the cost of background checks.
    • The Department shall not charge more than the actual cost of conducting the check; the Attorney General certifies the cost per check annually to the State Treasurer.
    • The Attorney General acts as a clearinghouse and can exchange fingerprint data with FBI/State Police and other relevant jurisdictions to obtain background information.
    • The Department serves as a centralized repository for disseminating information from background checks.
  • Disqualifications and penalties
    • A person with disqualifying criminal history (as defined) shall be disqualified from serving as an employee, volunteer, or organizer.
    • A person who participates in a youth-serving organization knowing they are disqualified commits a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison, and/or fines up to $10,000).
    • An organizer, coach, or anyone working with the organization who disregards the results of a background check or fails to obtain one while knowing a disqualified employee/volunteer is participating also commits a fourth-degree crime.
  • Civil penalties for organizations
    • A youth-serving organization that fails to request a background check may face civil penalties: up to $500 for a first offense, up to $750 for a second offense, and up to $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Penalties are enforceable in Superior Court via the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999.
  • Disqualified individuals
    • The bill references existing protections for excluded sex offenders (as defined in related law) who remain ineligible to serve in such roles.
  • Effective date
    • Takes effect on the first day of the second month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Prospective and current employees, volunteers, and organizers of youth-serving organizations (including for-profit entities in the youth services space, such as private sports clubs and leagues).
  • Public and nonpublic schools’ staff who have already undergone background checks may count those checks for the year, with proof provided to the youth-serving organization.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Background checks are annual for each individual.
  • Costs are capped to actual costs, with annual cost certification by the Attorney General.
  • The Attorney General coordinates the background checks and facilitates data exchange with FBI/State Police and other jurisdictions.
  • Civil penalties and criminal penalties become applicable for noncompliance or improper conduct regarding background checks.

Potential impact

  • Increased safeguarding of minors by ensuring adults involved in youth activities have current background checks.
  • Greater regulatory burden on youth-serving organizations, including for-profit entities, to implement annual checks and maintain documentation.
  • Potential deterrence of individuals with disqualifying criminal histories from participating in youth activities.
  • Financial impact on organizations and individuals due to background check costs, though costs are limited to actual expenses.

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

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