House Bill 103 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Leigh Hulsey Representative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Youth Athlete Protection Act; Department of Human Resources (DHR) required to develop model Youth Athlete Protection Policy to prevent child abuse in youth sports; local sports organizations, including local governments, required to implement similar policy and register compliance with DHR, youth sports coaches required to undergo criminal background check and mandatory reporter training, DHR required to adopt rules

Description

This bill is the Youth Athlete Protection Act.

This bill would require the State Department of Human Resources (DHR) to develop a model Youth Athlete Protection Policy to: (i) prevent the abuse of youth athletes; (ii) set standards for appropriate conduct between coaches and youth athletes; and (iii) provide mandatory reporter training for coaches of youth sports.

This bill would authorize DHR to rely on national resources, such as the U.S. Center for SafeSport, when developing the model policy.

This bill would require each youth sports organization and each local government which provides individuals under 18 years of age the opportunity to participate in youth sports to: (i) adopt a Youth Athlete Protection Policy, which must reflect the minimum standards of DHR's model policy; (ii) require coaches, including volunteers, to undergo a criminal history background check; and (iii) require coaches, including volunteers, to annually complete mandatory reporter training.

This bill would require youth sports organizations and local governments to annually register with DHR to certify compliance with this act, HB103 INTRODUCED and would require DHR to publish a list of certified youth sports organizations and local governemnts. If a youth sports organization or local government does not certify compliance, this bill would prohibit the entity from providing youth sports.

This bill would provide immunity to youth sports organizations and local governments relating to the hiring of a coach or acceptance of a coach as a volunteer, with exceptions.

This bill would also require DHR to adopt rules.

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Subjects

Children