To Pastors in California- Question about AB506

[Deena]

Hello. I'm sorry to bother you all but my research has gotten no where. Thx for your time.
I understand AB506 law pertaining to Sunday School/ youth/Nursery workers. I understand fingerprinting is required for church liability insurance we're looking into. We're a small church that started growing so have a small nursery. A man lives on the grounds too, does he or the pastor need to be able to pass a background check in order for us to get liability insurance? To comply w/AB506 it doesn't appear so but not sure about liability insurance requirements. Just wondering how much work this is. We are all volunteers. Thanks so much

 

[Salty]

1) what does your insurance company say?

2) Wouldn't surprise me if those who demanded this law - also believes in separation of church and state!

 

[Deena]

1) what does your insurance company say?

2) Wouldn't surprise me if those who demanded this law - also believes in separation of church and state!

Thank you. "I understand fingerprinting is required for church liability insurance we're looking into" we have no insurance

 

[John of Japan]

Hello. I'm sorry to bother you all but my research has gotten no where. Thx for your time.
I understand AB506 law pertaining to Sunday School/ youth/Nursery workers. I understand fingerprinting is required for church liability insurance we're looking into. We're a small church that started growing so have a small nursery. A man lives on the grounds too, does he or the pastor need to be able to pass a background check in order for us to get liability insurance? To comply w/AB506 it doesn't appear so but not sure about liability insurance requirements. Just wondering how much work this is. We are all volunteers. Thanks so much

If the law is interfering with the worship services, doctrine, etc. of the church, then it is a violation of the separation of church and state. However, what you described sounds more like a safety issue, and if so the insurance company and the government are proper in requiring this. The government (and insurance company) are within their rights to ask for a safe building, the proper license for bus drivers, etc.

In this case, the requirements do not sound burdensome to me, so if I were the pastor I'd go ahead and do it. I don't know how much work it would be, but it doesn't sound like a lot, and I would go ahead and get it done. Proper insurance is vital in today's society.

Our church does background checks on anyone who works with kids, and each of us has to sign a child safety policy. This will provide legal protection, and be very valuable if we are ever sued for something to do with kids. Nowadays that is quite possible.

 

[Salty]

I am all for safety, including children.
I am opposed to to extreme govt interference.
Churches need to protect kids.
But if the govt wants churches to fingerprint workers - then they can pay for it!

 

[John of Japan]

This is a good, informative site: AB506 Resources.

It covers the issue of one on one times with children. Our policy is that (1) no adult should be alone with a child not a relative, and (2) no adult should be alone in a restroom with a child not a relative.

Years ago we had an incident where an adult was alone with a child in a church classroom, and was acting inappropriately. The adult was immediately caught, and the police called. But if not handled properly, such an incident can actually destroy the church: lawsuits, criminal referral, etc.

 

[John of Japan]

I am all for safety, including children.
I am opposed to to extreme govt interference.
Churches need to protect kids.
But if the govt wants churches to fingerprint workers - then they can pay for it!

I think that was about the insurance company rather than the government, but I agree with you as the statement stands.

 

[Salty]

I have no problem with the insurance company making such a policy!

 

[Dr. Bob]

Church Mutual Insurance (what we had) has guidelines for those working with children. So SS teachers, Awana, youth ministry all had "hoops" to jump thru. One nice fellow volunteered and when given the forms to complete, "disappeared". Quit coming to our church totally. We felt that was a blessing!

 

[Salty]

Church Mutual Insurance (what we had) has guidelines for those working with children. So SS teachers, Awana, youth ministry all had "hoops" to jump thru. One nice fellow volunteered and when given the forms to complete, "disappeared". Quit coming to our church totally. We felt that was a blessing!

 

[Scarlett O.]

[Scarlett - no longer a moderator]

I've been fingerprinted more times than you can shake a stick at. Twice for two different Christian schools, once for a charter school, and THREE times for my public school when the guy doing the fingerprinting couldn't make mine "take". That's six times - $60.

At church, my fingerprints at the state were accepted and I just had to have the background check done.

I'm all for this with ANYONE who works with children in any capacity. There are horrid people both in and out of the church.

 

[Deena]

If the law is interfering with the worship services, doctrine, etc. of the church, then it is a violation of the separation of church and state. However, what you described sounds more like a safety issue, and if so the insurance company and the government are proper in requiring this. The government (and insurance company) are within their rights to ask for a safe building, the proper license for bus drivers, etc.

In this case, the requirements do not sound burdensome to me, so if I were the pastor I'd go ahead and do it. I don't know how much work it would be, but it doesn't sound like a lot, and I would go ahead and get it done. Proper insurance is vital in today's society.

Our church does background checks on anyone who works with kids, and each of us has to sign a child safety policy. This will provide legal protection, and be very valuable if we are ever sued for something to do with kids. Nowadays that is quite possible.

Thanks so much! Makes sense

 

[Deena]

[Scarlett - no longer a moderator]

I've been fingerprinted more times than you can shake a stick at. Twice for two different Christian schools, once for a charter school, and THREE times for my public school when the guy doing the fingerprinting couldn't make mine "take". That's six times - $60.

At church, my fingerprints at the state were accepted and I just had to have the background check done.

I'm all for this with ANYONE who works with children in any capacity. There are horrid people both in and out of the church.

Yes so true. Honestly the only dangerous person is our pastor with his violent background. He's not saved. He couldn't pass a background check. I pray God will take him away, he's not saved. I've never had to look into anyone's background until he scared us two Sunday School Teachers. We live 1 hr away from only 2 churches so can't be picky. All the other board members are 100% for us and our Sunday School, he is not. He's trying to break it up so I'm slowly introducing the law of fingerprints. We would never let him alone with any of the kids. He's old so hopefully, our church is growing, we'll get a few others able to preach. I'm glad you are into safety with your kids. We took the 4 hr safety course today online, now I'm going to introduce background checks. I'm concerned of being liable if something were to happen so heeding the law, since it feels like common sense to me, is best. Iv'e learned the law passed here in Calif, two mandatory reporters together at all times with the kids. If our Pastor goes off, yelling, we are not in Sunday School again, I will have already passed around this law to the other board members. We have a growing church with solid christians, I feel God will use them. Anyhow thank you again Scarlett. I guess this thread can be closed but you aren't a mod anymore

 

[Dr. Bob]

I guess this thread can be closed

Think this is an important topic to leave open for others to read (and heed the necessity for such investigating) if you don't mind. If it helps one child . . .