Bill Would Require New Camp Staff Background Checks
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 5:50 PM
Updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 07:40 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A senator on Wednesday said a new piece of legislation would make children safer by imposing
stricter background checks for camp employees.
Senate Bill 321, which was introduced this week, would require background checks for all camp
staff, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.
The bill would also require FBI checks for any employee who has not lived in Ohio for the
past five years, and require social security number background checks on all camp volunteers.
The legislation proposal stemmed from an incident last summer when camp volunteer Timothy Keil
was arrested and later convicted of fondling young boys inside a cabin.
The arrest highlighted a loophole in Ohio law.
While the state required criminal background checks at summer day camps, there were no checks
required for residential or overnight camps, Kocot reported.
Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, said a social security background check would have revealed
that in 1990, Keil was convicted in Pennsylvania of indecent assault of a child, Kocot
reported.
"My goal is to try and not let another summer go by without making sure we have a system to
protect our kids," Stivers said.
Stivers said he was hopeful he can get the bill signed into law and that it will take effect
before summer camp season is in full swing.
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