June 16, 2009

 

Dear Massachusetts District Administrators and League Presidents:

 

The state of Massachusetts requires that each youth sports program, including Little League, receive Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) certification for the purpose of completing a state-wide criminal background check in accordance with Massachusetts state law: Mass. General Laws c.6, s. 167-178 Criminal Offender Record Information Act (CORI).

 

A CORI check does NOT satisfy the national background check requirement as described in regulation I (c) 8 and 9 of the 2009 Little League Baseball and Little League Softball rulebooks.

 

Each youth sports organization and/or league in Massachusetts, servicing children under the age of 18 must conduct a CORI check, including local Little Leagues. To satisfy Massachusetts law and Little League regulations regarding the placement of volunteers, ALL LITTLE LEAGUES IN MASSACHUSETTS MUST CONDUCT TWO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

 

The nationwide search of applicable government sex offender registry data as required by Little League for all volunteers with "repetitive access" to children is not satisfied by only checking the CORI database, nor does a check of records through LexisNexis satisfy the CORI requirement.

 

Annually, each local Little League program located in Massachusetts is required to renew its CORI certification. More information is available here: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/6/gl-6-toc.htm

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/6/6-172h.htm

 

 

Sincerely,

James Ferguson

Director of Security and Assistant Director of Risk Management
P.O. Box 3485
539 US Route 15 Hwy
Williamsport, PA  17701-0485

Phone: 570-326-1921, ext. 212

Fax: 570-326-1074