Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation          Policy No. AS - 100 and Conservation Department                           Policies and Procedure Manual

 

Subject:                      Screening of Youth Sports Volunteers 

Effective:                    February 8, 2007

Supersedes:              All Previous Policies Relating to Subject                                      

 

1. Purpose

 

As our society increases its awareness of the problems associated with situations where children are placed at risk of abuse, organizations involved with America's youth must work diligently to provide them with a safe environment. Therefore, the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department (Department) shall conduct criminal background checks of all youth sports volunteers and shall not knowingly allow any volunteer found guilty of the disqualifying offenses defined in this policy, or having committed any acts that would indicate behavior that would have a detrimental effect on children, to be placed in a position that may involve contact with children.

 

2. Applicability, Approval, and Enforcement

 

This policy shall apply to the following volunteers who may come into contact with children, including but not limited to coaches, assistant coaches, administrators, board directors, referees, and other youth sports volunteers. No person covered by this policy shall participate as a volunteer until he/she is approved by the Department to participate. Individuals and organizations failing to comply with this policy may be precluded from utilizing County facilities.

 

3. Disqualifying Offenses

 

To serve as a youth sports volunteer, a person shall not have been found guilty of the following offenses:

 

            a. All sex offenses regardless of the amount of time since offense. Examples include,           but are not limited to, child          molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy,         prostitution, solicitation, and indecent exposure.

 

            b. All felony violence offenses regardless of the amount of time since offense.            Examples include, but are not limited to, murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault,       kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated battery.                                                                                                                                                              

            c. All felony offenses within the past ten (10) years (other than violence or sex).           Examples include, but are not limited to, drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud,         and child endangerment.                                                                                                                                                                 

            d. All misdemeanor violence offenses within the past seven (7) years. Examples       include, but are not limited to, simple assault, battery, domestic violence, and hit and   run.

 

            e. All misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the past five (5) years or multiple          (more than one) offenses in the past ten (10) years. Examples include, but are not            limited to, driving under the influence, simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly,            public intoxication, and possession of drug paraphernalia.