“First and foremost, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who have been affected by this horrific situation,” said Assemblyman Beephan. “Parents should never have to question whether their children are safe when attending instructional programs or extracurricular activities. This common-sense legislation will close dangerous loopholes in existing laws and ensure that individuals with troubling criminal pasts cannot gain access to children in these settings.”

The bill, titled “An Act to Amend the General Business Law, in Relation to Requiring Mandatory Background Checks for Persons Employed by Certain Businesses Serving Minors and Prohibiting Certain Persons from Owning Such Businesses,” aims to enhance child safety by establishing uniform regulations across various youth service providers, including martial arts academies, dance studios, sports training facilities, music and performing arts schools, and tutoring centers. Under the legislation:

•All employees, volunteers, independent contractors, and business operators at youth service providers must undergo comprehensive background checks prior to employment or ownership, with rechecks every three years.
•The background checks will screen for serious criminal offenses, including sex offenses, violent crimes, and offenses against children.
•Individuals who fail the background check will be immediately disqualified from employment, volunteering, or ownership.

Currently, New York law does not require background checks for employees at many private businesses that cater to children. While schools and daycare centers have stringent vetting processes, youth service providers remain largely unregulated, leaving dangerous gaps in child protection. Assemblyman Beephan’s bill seeks to close this loophole and provide peace of mind to parents by ensuring that only qualified and vetted individuals work with children in extracurricular settings.

“This is a straightforward measure to protect our children and prevent known predators from exploiting these gaps in the law,” Beephan continued. “I urge my colleagues in the Legislature to join me in taking swift action to pass this bill and prioritize the safety of New York’s children.”