Background Checks

Criminal Background Check Policy

(Act 34 Clearance)

POLICY: 
All Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania (LHUP) employees who have direct contact with child care and K-12 age children as defined by Act 34 must be certified as employable. Certification for new hires or for those who have a change in duties requiring contract with K-12 age children must be obtained.  If the applicant/employee previously acquired certification, the effective date may not be more than one year prior to the appointment.

PROCEDURES: 

Current Employees:

• Applications for Act 34 Clearance will be distributed by the Director of Camps or the Dean/Director of employees requiring such certification.   These applications will be forwarded with remission paid by LHUP to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.

•  The certification will be mailed by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository to the employee’s home.  Once received by the employee, the certification should be given to the director.  The director will copy the certification and send the original to Human Resources for inclusion in the employee’s personnel file.

• If clearance has not been obtained, the duties involving contact with child care or K-12 age children will be removed from the employee.

Hiring Process and Prospective Employees:

• When requesting a vacancy, the requestor should obtain a Personnel Action Control Form and checkmark the box to signify that the person filling the position will require Act 34 Clearance.

•  The language of the advertisement or posting should include the Act 34 requirement as well as the stipulation that the clearance must have been obtained no longer than one year prior to the expected appointment date.

• All costs associated with the procurement of the Act 34 Clearance will be borne by the applicant.

• The appointment letter will state that successful certification will be a requirement for continued employment with LHUP.  Failure to obtain and provide certification to LHUP will result in termination.

• In special cases, when time does not permit the candidate to apply for and receive Act 34 clearance, a grace period of no longer than 90 days may be given.  Until such time that the clearance is obtained, the employee may not perform duties that require contact with child care or K-12 age children.

• Upon appointment or, in unusual circumstances, upon receipt of the certification within the grace period, the employee will provide Human Resources with the original document and retain a copy.

• Human Resources will forward a copy of the Act 34 Clearance to the director.

Last Updated 04/29/2008