Recently  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  began  a  process  to  obtain  authorization  for  criminal  background  checks  from  volunteers  who  have  continuously  served  in  the  same  volunteer  positions.   Since  2003  background  checks  have  been  conducted  on  new  volunteers  when  they  registered.  Background  checks  were  not  performed  on  those  volunteers  who  did  not  change  their  position.   The  new  volunteer  authorization  Web  site  opened  on  June  1  and  will  be  available  until  August  1.  

Letters  were  sent  in  early  June  to  volunteers  requesting  that  they  visit  the  site,  log  in,  and  accept  the  background‐check  authorization.   Volunteers  who  give  authorization  will  receive  the  background  check  and  need  to  do  nothing  more.  

Volunteers  who  did  not  give  their  agreement,  or  who  took  no  action  to  respond  to  the  letter,  are  required  to  submit  a  new  adult  application  when  it  is  time  to  renew  their  registration.  To  protect  our  youth  members,  those  volunteers  who  did  not  have  the  background  check  will  have  their  registration  expired.  These  adults  will  not  be  listed  for  selection  at  the  time  of  charter  renewal.  

Units  that  use  Internet  Rechartering  for  online  renewal  will  need  to  enter  these  adults,  if  they  are  to  be  registered,  as  new  adults  and  submit  the  volunteer  applications  to  the  council  along  with  their  renewal.  

Units  that  renew  using  the  paper  application  must  submit  the  volunteer  application  for  these  adults,  if  they  are  to  be  registered,  with  the  charter  renewal  papers.  

Background  checks  will  be  conducted  on  all  new  volunteers.  This  summer,  the  BSA  will  introduce  an  application  to  replace  previous  versions  of  the  BSA  Adult  application.  This  form  will  include  a  new  authorization  and  disclosure  statement.  Units  should  use  this  new  BSA  Adult  application  to  ensure  that  new  adult  registrants  use  the  proper  authorization  and  disclosure  statement.  Units  may  obtain  the  new  BSA  Adult  applications  from  the  council  service  center.