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AB-506 Youth service organizations: child abuse and neglect prevention.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 09/17/2021 09:00 PM
AB506:v93#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 506
CHAPTER 169

An act to add Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 18975) to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to youth service organizations.

[ Approved by Governor  September 16, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State  September 16, 2021. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 506, Lorena Gonzalez. Youth service organizations: child abuse and neglect prevention.
Existing law generally provides requirements for the licensing of business establishments. Existing law requires a business that provides services to minors, as defined, to provide written notice to the parent or guardian of a youth participating in the service offered by the business regarding the business’s policies relating to criminal background checks for employees who provide services to minors, as specified. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including liability insurance.
This bill would require an administrator, employee, or regular volunteer, as defined, of a youth service organization, as defined, to complete child abuse and neglect reporting training, as specified. The bill would require an administrator, employee, or regular volunteer of a youth service organization to undergo a background check, as specified. The bill would require a youth service organization to develop and implement child abuse prevention policies and procedures that, among other things, ensure the reporting of suspected incidents of child abuse to persons or entities outside of the organization.
This bill would authorize an insurer to request information demonstrating compliance with these provisions from a youth service organization before writing liability insurance for a youth service organization.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 18975) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
CHAPTER  2.9. Youth Service Organizations

18975.
 (a) An administrator, employee, or regular volunteer of a youth service organization shall complete training in child abuse and neglect identification and training in child abuse and neglect reporting. The training requirement may be met by completing the online mandated reporter training provided by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services.
(b) An administrator, employee, or regular volunteer of a youth service organization shall undergo a background check pursuant to Section 11105.3 of the Penal Code to identify and exclude any persons with a history of child abuse.
(c) A youth service organization shall develop and implement child abuse prevention policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(1) Policies to ensure the reporting of suspected incidents of child abuse to persons or entities outside of the organization, including the reporting required pursuant to Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code.
(2) Policies requiring, to the greatest extent possible, the presence of at least two mandated reporters whenever administrators, employees, or volunteers are in contact with, or supervising, children.
(d) Before writing liability insurance for a youth service organization in this state, an insurer may request information demonstrating compliance with this section from the youth service organization as a part of the insurer’s loss control program.
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Regular volunteer” means a volunteer with the youth service organization who is 18 years of age or older and who has direct contact with, or supervision of, children for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year.
(2) “Youth service organization” means an organization that employs or utilizes the services of persons who, due to their relationship with the organization, are mandated reporters pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code.