HB9 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jack Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Youth sports, coaches and certain others involved in high risk youth athletics, injury mitigation course approved by Public Health Dept. required annually

Summary

HB9 would require unpaid or volunteer coaches and certain staff involved in high-risk youth sports to complete a free, department-approved injury-mitigation course annually.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Coach Safety Act, requiring unpaid or volunteer coaches and athletics personnel who work with youth 14 and under in high-risk sports to finish a no-cost course approved by the Department of Public Health. The course covers emergency preparedness, concussions, heat-related injuries, conditioning and equipment use, and heart health. Completion provides liability protections if they follow the course guidance and act in good faith, and the act requires record-keeping and annual renewal.

Who It Affects

• Unpaid or volunteer coaches and athletics personnel who organize, train, or supervise youth athletes age 14 and under in high-risk activities, who must complete the course and renew it each year.
• Youth athletics associations and state or political subdivisions that sponsor or conduct high-risk youth activities, which must offer the course at no cost, keep completion records, and ensure the requirement is followed.

Key Provisions

• Requires unpaid or volunteer coaches and athletics personnel to complete a free online or in-person injury-mitigation course approved by the Department of Public Health.
• Course topics include emergency preparedness for traumatic injuries, concussions, heat and weather-related injury awareness, proper conditioning and equipment use, and awareness of heart defects and sudden cardiac issues.
• Course must be completed within 30 days of becoming actively engaged as a coach or athletics personnel, with annual renewal by the anniversary of that engagement.
• Associations and subdivisions must maintain records of each individual's course completion for as long as they serve in that role.
• Exempts licensed/certified athletic trainers, doctors, nurses, first responders, and health professionals with acute traumatic life support training from the course.
• Provides liability protections: completion of the course offers a defense under the good samaritan law if actions were in good faith and aligned with the course techniques.
• The Department of Public Health must adopt implementing rules within 180 days of enactment.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage, with rule-related provisions taking effect as specified.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Youth Sports