Editor's Note—This section has been renumbered at the
county's request; it was previously numbered 105.010.
[Ord. No. 96-40 §§1—6, 3-28-1996]
A.
It is
hereby adopted as the policy of this County that the hiring of any
personnel who may come into contact with children during the course
of their regular employment shall be screened as a part of the hiring
process by inquiring of the child abuse and neglect screening program
maintained by the Division of Family Services, Department of Social
Services as to whether that potential employee is listed on the central
registry of persons against whom abuse or neglect has been substantiated.
B.
As a
part of this policy the County Executive or his designee is directed
to immediately establish contact with the screening program by inquiring,
in writing, of the Director, Division of Family Services, 615 Harden
Court, Jefferson City, Missouri 65109. The County Executive or his
designee shall identify himself as the primary contact for this employer.
C.
It is
further adopted as policy that a criminal records check shall be made
on all such personnel who come into contact with children as a part
of their regular employment, in addition to such check with the Division
of Family Services, to determine if a potential employee has been
criminally convicted of a child abuse or neglect related charge.
D.
Offers
of employment to persons who would come into contact with children
as a part of their regular employment shall be conditioned upon a
reply from the screening program at the Division of Family Services
and a criminal records check that are clean of any substantiation
or conviction of charges related to child abuse or neglect. Current
employees who would come into contact with children as a part of their
regular employment and volunteers who spend five (5) hours or more
a month in a program in which they would come in regular contact with
children as a part of their volunteer work shall be screened through
the Division of Family Services within ninety (90) days of the effective
date of this Section (3-28-1996). A criminal records check shall not
be mandatory for any current employee. Employees and volunteers subject
to the requirements of this Section shall be re-screened through the
Division of Family Services at least every five (5) years. The County
Executive or his designee shall designate positions covered by the
reporting provisions of this Section (3-28-1996).
E.
All boards, agencies and commissions, receiving any funding from the general revenue of St. Charles County shall also adopt the policy regarding the hiring of any personnel and the acceptance of volunteers who spend five (5) hours or more a month, when either employees or volunteers may come into contact with children during the course of their employment as set out in Subsections (A—D) of this Section and shall require that agencies and boards who receive County funds from County boards and commissions shall adopt this policy. Such policy shall set forth the responsible party in each organization whose duties include the authority to designate which positions are covered by the policy. Annual application for funds from the general revenue made by any board, agency or commission shall include evidence that new employees have been screened by DFS and in a criminal records check and have been found clean in both record checks. Current employees and volunteers who spend five (5) hours or more a month in a program in which they would come in regular contact with children as a part of their volunteer work shall have evidence presented that they were screened by the Division of Family Services and their records came back clean of substantiation of child abuse or neglect. Employees and volunteers subject to the requirements of this Section shall be re-screened through the Division of Family Services at least every five (5) years.
F.
Upon
passage and approval, the County Executive or his designee shall notify
the County's departments, boards and commissions of this policy, as
well as all agencies who receive funds for the purpose of assistance
to the County's indigent residents.
