State
Mandates
Fingerprinting
Education Code 10911.5 requires recreation program employers to fingerprint
employees having direct contact with any minor on or before the first
day of employment. Local agencies are authorized to screen a prospective
employee or volunteer for their criminal background by requesting from
the Department of Justice records of all convictions and of any arrests
pending adjudication involving those specified offenses.
For
more facts you need to know about fingerprinting park and
recreation employees
working with youth, click here.
Fingerprinting
Update: How Agencies Are Complying. Click here. Fingerprinting Regulations for California http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/
The California Department of Justice provides an automated service for criminal history background checks that may be required as a condition of employment, licensing, certification, foreign adoptions or VISA/Immigration clearances. Here is information for individuals needing to submit fingerprints for background checks.
Beginning July 1, 2005, all applicant fingerprint submissions must be transmitted electronically. Live Scan digital submissions provide the quickest way to submit and process background checks.
Applicants must get instructions and the forms required for fingerprinting services from the agency requiring their criminal history background check. Since different forms are used, individuals seeking a "clearance letter" from the department for visa, immigration or foreign adoptions purposes should refer to the VISA/IMMIGRATION/FOREIGN ADOPTIONS section below.
Amended California Regulations on the Suppression of Incomplete Criminal History Information. Effective August 27, 2005 . Approved by the Office of Administrative Law and filed with the Secretary of State, the revised regulations add Article 2, sections 720, 721, 722, 723 and 724 to Chapter 7, Division 1 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations
California
law specific to fingerprinting is found at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Select California law and enter appropriate code number (Public
Resources 5164, Education code 10911.5, Penal Codes 11105.034,
13300 (b) (10), County
Codes 11105 B10, C10, 11105.2).
Playgrounds
New regulations updated for 2008
AB 1144 regulations become effective January 2008.
Click here for the text.
Regulations History
Click here to get a copy of the current California's playground safety regulations, although they are expected to change in the near future. California Playground Regulations state compliance standards come from the documents listed below which are not included within the regulations:
- Guidelines for Public Playground Safety, US Consumer Product Commission Publication #325. Click here to download.
- Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, ASTM, Publication F 1487-98. To order this archived copy contact Global Engineering Documents at 800/854-7179. Cost is $63 plus shipping. Payment requires credit card or purchase order.
- California Health & Safety Codes Specific to playground safety
Sections 115725-115750
Sections 115775-115800
All California public playgrounds must be initially inspected by a certified playground safety inspector (CPSI) and compliant with CPSC and ASTM guidelines for play areas.
Requires playground inspections by October 1, 2000 and
creates the playground safety recycling act. Click here to
view AB 1055. Public playgrounds shall updgrade by replacement
or improvement as necessary to satisfy the regulations pursuant
to Health & Safety Code Section 115725, before January
1, 2003. For more information on Playground Safety, click here.
Additional
Resources:
- For
other Playground resources from the National Recreation & Park
Association
please contact Mike Minnicino, Publications manager at 703/858-2174.
- A
list of publications containing guidelines and tips from the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The information was
compiled by the National SAFE Kids Campaign (NSKC). Click here to
download.
- Wondering about your liability when inspecting a playground for compliance? Click here for CA Code regarding immunity.
- Want to become an inspector? Click here.
Public
Recreation Exemptions from Day Care Licensing
Public recreation programs have the option to be licensed. Health and Safety
codes specific to licensing can be found at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Select California law and then enter 1596.792 or download a fact sheet here.
Skateboarding
AB 1296, the original skate park authorizing legislation
expired on January 1, 2003 and was replaced by SB994, which will
expire on January 1, 2008. The legislation limits the liability
of public agencies operating skateparks by including skateboarding
in the list of hazardous recreation activities covered in the
state Health & Safety Code and by setting specific requirements
for the use of safety gear.
Click here for SB994
A great Web site to check for more information on SB 994 is the
Southern California Skate Park
Coalition.
Smoking
Near Playgrounds
AB 188 prohibits the smoking of any cigarette, cigar, or other
tobacco-related product within a playground or tot lot sandbox
area. Click here for the actual bill. Federal
Mandates
Federal ADA Playground Design Regulations
The development of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
(ADAAG) is to ensure that new construction and alterations of facilities covered
by Titles II and III of the ADA are readily accessible to and usable by individuals
with disabilities. This fact sheet explains more about what you should know and
resources for more information. Click here to download the fact sheet.
The
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
(Access Board) is issuing final accessibility guidelines to
serve as the basis for standards to be adopted by the Department
of Justice for new construction and alterations of play areas
covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The guidelines
will ensure that newly constructed and altered
play areas meet the requirements of the ADA and are readily
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
The Department of Justice must adopt the guidelines as standards
for them to be enforceable under the ADA. For more information,
click here.
For
additional information on Accessibility, click here for the The
ADA Document Center
For additional information on Accessibility, click here for the National
Center on Accessibility
Pacific
DBTACassisting disability and business communities 800/949-4232,
www.disabilityaccessinfo.ca.gov
Pacific
ADA & IT Center (Pacific DBTAC) Region IX, http://www.pacdbtac.org
Fed:
ADA Dept of Justice 800/514-0301, www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada
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