Lower Moving to Codify Background Checks

VILLAS – The Lower Township Council has introduced an ordinance that requires a background check for any youth sports volunteer.

According to the ordinance, anyone working with youth under the age of 18 – an employee or a volunteer – will be required to submit to criminal history background checks and be fingerprinted.

Township solicitor Rob Belasco said the township and the Recreation Department already had this requirement in place, but in reviewing the procedure, his recommendation was to adopt an ordinance and codify the practice.

The ordinance applies to anyone 16 years of age or older, paid or not paid, who works with youth in township programs. The measure says that no one will be allowed to work with youth unless the background check and fingerprinting are completed.

The…