Form Center

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department recognizes the importance of maintaining a safe workplace with employees and volunteers who are honest, trustworthy, qualified, reliable and nonviolent, and do not present a risk of serious harm to their co-employees/co-volunteers or others.  For purposes of furthering these concerns and interests, before hiring an individual, The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department reserves the right to investigate the individual’s prior employment/volunteer history, personal references and educational background, as well as other relevant information that is reasonably available to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.  In hiring for certain positions, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department may review an applicant’s credit report and criminal background, if any.  Consistent with these practices, all job applicants will be asked to sign a Request, Authorization, Consent and Release from Liability for disclosure of Information.  Consistent with legal requirements, The San Francsico Recreation and Park Department reserves the right to exclude any applicant from consideration from employment or volunteerism, where the applicant refuses to sign the Request, Authorization, Consent and Release form as requested.

I understand that in connection with the application process, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department may request information from my past employers, educational institutions, personal references, and any public or private agencies (i.e. Department of Justice, Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Services, and other relevant agencies) that have issued me either a professional or vocational certification or license. I also understand that such investigation may include a review of any criminal history records. Prior to agreeing to this form, I read the San Francisco Recreation Department’s Application Background Investigation Policy, which I fully understand. I have provided complete and truthful information to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department regarding all sources of information about my past employment, volunteer services, education, licensure, certification, criminal conviction record, as well as any other information requested in the volunteer application, and have been fully informed that any misrepresentations or material omissions concerning such information will be grounds for denying my application, withdrawing any offer of volunteer employment, or immediate discharge. In order to assist San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in obtaining documents and information to confirm my background, if necessary, I hereby consent to the release of information more specifically described below.

I request, authorize, and consent to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s thorough investigation of whether I have a criminal history, and if so, the nature of such criminal record and all surrounding circumstances available through lawful means. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has advised me that its criminal background check will focus on convictions which would disqualify me from employment/volunteerism, e.g. Public Resources Code Section 5164.

I further hereby release and hold harmless San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, its officers, employees and agents, and any other person, or public or private industry entity inquiring about, investigating, furnishing, communicating, reviewing or evaluating information or documents pursuant to the Request, Authorization, Consent, and Release, or making any written or verbal communications for such purposes, from any and all claims arising from such activities, including but not limited to, any claims whatsoever for defamation, violation, of California Labor Code section 1050 (governing unsolicited or false references), fraud, misrepresentation, negligent interference with prospective business relations or contract, breach of contract (including any settlement agreement), negligent infliction of emotional distress, employment discrimination, violation of public policy, and any other potential claims, unknown to me presently, that I may have, now or in the future. I voluntarily grant this release for purposes of supporting my application for volunteer employment and based upon my desire to encourage the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s consideration of my application.

I have carefully read this Request, Authorization, Consent, and release and have voluntarily agreed to its terms to assist San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in evaluating my qualifications for employment/volunteer services and in meeting the business necessity of hiring honest, trustworthy, reliable employees/volunteers who are nonviolent and do not pose a risk of serious harm in the workplace. I additionally agree to fully cooperate with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in permitting the release of the above information and reports. I additionally understand that all information and documents generated, received, or maintained by San Francisco Recreation and Park Department during, or as a result of, its investigation, will be maintained as confidential information and that San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will not release such information or documents to me.

The following information is needed by the Recreation and Park Department to ensure that volunteers have a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience and that the children and adults under our care are safe and secure. If you have any questions regarding this portion of the application, please contact the Director of Volunteer Services at 415-831-6336.

State law requires all volunteers to pass a background clearance with the Department of Justice prior to supervising sensitive populations, including youth and seniors.