Criminal Record Checks Reduced For Some

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 16 July 2013 06:02 
Criminal record checks won't cost as much for some volunteers helping out at local schools and with non profit groups.  Vernon council has passed a motion to reduce the new $25 fee by 75% for people with financial difficulties. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says the discount would be based on government documents, the same method that's used for people who get reduced rates for rec facilities. "Whatever process they have now for determining the qualifications, the same process process will be used for this." Councillor Catherine Lord who lead the motion, says the details on the process will be finalized by city staff next month, prior to the restart of schools. "There is a system in place now at the recreation centre and it works very well. They ask those people to get a letter from the ministry or whatever social assistance is providing their funding." For those that qualify, the fee for the check will be $6.25. "There are people with financial difficulties that are sometimes also physically disabled who go out and do volunteer work, and part of that is their way of living almost, so we don't want to discourage that," says Lord. The Vernon School District had requested the city consider eliminating the fee, claiming it would cost the school system an extra $25,000 a year.