COUNTY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLANDLegislative Session 2014, Legislative Day No. 7

Bill No. 20-14

Councilmembers Bevins and Marks

By the County Council, April 7, 2014

A BILLENTITLED

AN ACT concerning

Recreation and Parks – Background Checks

FOR the purpose of requiring that certain individuals or volunteers at Recreation and Parks

programs or activities be subject to a criminal history records check and other reasonable

inquiry into their background; identifying the specific criminal offenses that would

disqualify participation in a program or activity; permitting the Department to adopt

regulations; and generally relating to the Department of Recreation and Parks.

BY adding

Sections 30-3-101 through 30-3-103Article 30 - Recreation and ParksTitle 3 - Background ChecksBaltimore County Code, 2003

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.Strike out indicates matter stricken from bill.Underlining indicates amendments to bill.

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SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE

COUNTY, MARYLAND, that the Laws of Baltimore County read as follows:

Title 3. Background Checks.1

§ 30-3-101.2

THE PURPOSE OF THIS TITLE IS TO:3

(1) ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PARTICIPANTS IN RECREATION AND PARKS4

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES; AND5

(2) PROMOTE PIECE OF MIND TO ALL PERSONS THAT PARTICIPATE IN6

RECREATION AND PARKS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PARENTS AND7

GUARDIANS OF MINOR CHILDREN, THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND VOLUNTEERS8

HAVE BEEN SCREENED WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK.9

§ 30-3-102.10

(a) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2015, THE DIRECTOR SHALL, IN CONSULTATION11

WITH THE BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS, IMPLEMENT AND ADOPT A12

BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY AND PROCESS THAT PROVIDES OR REQUIRES A13

CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK, AND OTHER REASONABLE INQUIRY INTO14

THE BACKGROUND, OF ANY INDIVIDUAL OR VOLUNTEER WITH PERSONAL15

INVOLVEMENT, INTERACTION, CARE, CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF CHILDREN, AS16

A CONDITION OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S OR VOLUNTEER’S PARTICIPATION IN ANY17

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PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR A CERTIFIED1

RECREATION COUNCIL.2

(b) THIS POLICY SHALL IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC CRIMINAL OFFENSES3

(MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY) AND ANY OTHER OFFENSES FOR WHICH A4

CHARGE AND/OR CONVICTION WOULD DISQUALIFY AN INDIVIDUAL OR5

VOLUNTEER FROM PARTICIPATING IN YOUTH PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES, AND6

SHALL INDICATE WHETHER THE DISQUALIFICATION IS PERMANENT OR FOR A7

SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME.8

§ 30-3-103.9

THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS10

OF THIS TITLE.11

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, that this Act shall take effect 45 days12

from the date of its enactment.13

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