The province of British Columbia is making it easier for many volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults to get criminal record checks, by making the process free starting Nov. 30.

B.C. Attorney General Suzanne Anton said the province is assuming the cost of the checks because the $20 cost currently associated with each background check for a volunteer has been a financial burden for many groups.

 B.C. Attorney General Suzanne Anton making announcement

“These changes are about relieving cost and time pressures for many volunteer and non-profit organizations so they can focus on delivering great services and programs,” Anton said in a written statement. “Many leading groups in the sector asked for relief from the costs of criminal record checks for their volunteers, and we’re making it happen because it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”

Anton said the record-sharing change will allow organizations to save time and paperwork and will allow volunteers and publicly-funded employees more mobility, as they can consent to having a single check shared among various groups.

B.C. police agencies reported conducting about 80,000 for volunteers the same year.

Thanks to CBC News