House Bill 456 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Leigh HulseyRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Youth Athlete Protection Act; local governments required to develop and implement Youth Athlete Protection Policy to prevent child abuse in youth sports, criminal history background checks required for coaches

Summary

HB456 would require Alabama local governments to create Youth Athlete Protection Policies and screen coaches with annual background checks to prevent child abuse in youth sports.

What This Bill Does

Local governments that run youth sports programs must adopt a Youth Athlete Protection Policy by January 1, 2027, including standards for prohibited conduct, a code of conduct, training, and mandatory reporting. Coaches who are employees or volunteers must comply with the policy and undergo an annual criminal history background check, using ALEA fingerprint checks or an expanded PBSA background check. If a coach has been or is employed by a local board of education or the State Board of Education, the local government must search the Education Department’s Teacher Education and Certification portal and may rely on that information in hiring decisions. The bill provides immunity to local governments for hiring or accepting a coach as a volunteer, with exceptions for failing to exercise reasonable care, and allows cost-sharing or third-party payment options for background checks.

Who It Affects

• Local governments that operate youth sports programs: must develop, adopt, and enforce the Youth Athlete Protection Policy and conduct background checks on coaches.
• Coaches (employees or volunteers) and the parents of youth athletes: coaches must comply with the policy and annual background checks; parents receive copies of the policy and related information.

Key Provisions

• Adopt a Youth Athlete Protection Policy by January 1, 2027 that includes prohibited conduct standards, a code of conduct, training, and a mandatory reporting policy.
• Require annual criminal history background checks for coaches through ALEA (fingerprints) or an expanded PBSA check, with renewals due within 30 days after the prior check and potential cost-sharing options.
• If the coach has connections to a local board of education or the State Board of Education, conduct a search of the DOE's Teacher Education and Certification portal and allow those results to influence hiring decisions.
• Prohibit hiring or accepting as a volunteer any coach convicted of specified felonies, sex offenses, or child abuse offenses (or comparable offenses) and require ongoing compliance with the background check requirements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 17, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Children