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By Myrna Trauntvein | A Nephi City policy addressing a youth service protection plan was written by Ruth Bonzo, city library director. She said that it was required by the state who had asked if the city had such a policy but they did not. However, it would be a good idea for the city to also have a policy. “I created one but it was hard to create one just for the library,” she said. She said that, while volunteers were not required to have a background check, anyone who worked with youth should have their background checked. “In today’s world, it is a good idea to have all those who work with youth have a background check,” said Justin Seely, mayor. Seth Atkinson, city administrator, said that a policy had been prepared for those in the city who would be working with youth. The policy was concerning background checks and abuse training for youth workers. “The purpose of this policy is to ensure Nephi City remains in full compliance with Utah State Code 80-8. This policy establishes mandatory screening and training requirements for all individuals (youth workers) who provide regular care, supervision, guidance, or control of children in Nephi City programs,” said Atkinson. He said that a youth worker was defined as any employee or volunteer aged 18 or older who has regular and repeated interaction with children (individuals under age 18) as part of a Nephi City program). A registered sex offender check would require a search of both the Utah Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry and the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). “Nephi City will use a reputable software platform for: conducting national and state sex offender registry checks; providing state-mandated sexual abuse identification and reporting training.; and tracking and storing compliance records. All prospective employees aged 18 or older who will work with youth must successfully complete a background check and the mandated abuse training at the time of hire. No employee may begin their first shift or interact with youth until their background check has been cleared and their training certificate is recorded in the software system. All volunteers must complete the Registered Sex offender check and abuse training before they are allowed to interact with children in any program. Background checks and abuse training for volunteers must be renewed biannually (every two years). Department heads or program managers are responsible for verifying a “Cleared” status in the software before assigning any volunteer to a youth program. In accordance with Utah State Code 80-8-203(1), Nephi City strictly prohibits the employment or use of any individual as a youth worker if they appear on: The Utah Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry or The National Sex Offender Public Website. “The problem is that not all sex offenders are reported so they are not on the lists,” said Shari Cowan, city council member. All background check results and training certificates will be maintained securely within the city-selected software platform. “People can petition to have the charge removed from their record if they have not had problems for a number of years,” said Seely. “Is that called expunged?” asked Cowan. Expunged means the court has ordered a criminal arrest, investigation, or conviction record to be sealed and removed from public view. It acts as a legal “clean slate,” allowing the person to legally state that the incident never occurred on most job or housing applications. “There were records, such as drunk driving and road rage,” said Seely, “where the person can go without another offense for years and petition.” “The background check would be for sexual issues,” said Brittany Tellez , city attorney. Seely said that anger issues should also be reported because that could have a bad effect on children if an adult displayed that anger toward them or another child. “We can look at adding more criteria,” said Atkinson. Travis Worwood, council member, said he thought that the background check should be completed every year. “If you are doing volunteer backgrounds, could you make them pay the fee?” asked Seely. Worwood said that was not a good idea if you wanted to have volunteers. It was difficult enough to get volunteers to help with sports as it was. Tate Douglas, city council member, said that all employees should have the background check paid for by the city. Atkinson said that, if the council wanted more items checked in a background check, they should let him know. Bonzo said that, when the city approved the policy, she would use that criteria for a background check rather than the one she had created.
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