As first reported by The Ealdormere Gazette:
Changes in legislation in the State of Pennsylvania will have an impact on how attendees under the age of 18 may participate. Through their Keep Kids Safe website, Pennsylvania has announced that, beginning July 1, 2015, an adult applying for an unpaid position as a volunteer responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children will need clearances.
This new law states that anyone responsible for the “supervision, guidance or control of children or [who has] routine interaction with children” must go through a clearance process that may include a finger print check by the FBI.
With this new law, there is speculation across Social Media as to whether youth will be able to participate in armoured combat, or even youth combat, if all the marshals have not gone through this clearance process. Under this legislation, it might also be impossible for seventeen year olds to freely wander about the Pennsic site since they will have interaction with security and other event volunteers who have not gone through the clearance process.
The Ealdormere Gazette has reached out to Baroness Briatiz D’Andrade, Pennsic War 44’s Media Liaison, and we hope to hear from her soon.
For more information, read the FAQ about this legislation.
[Edit: We have been informed that this issue is being investigated by the Pennsic Mayor and the Seneschals of the three Pennsic kingdoms.]