HB 24-1080

HB 24-1080, also known as the Youth Sports Personnel Requirements bill in Colorado, mandates that youth sports organizations and local governments providing youth athletic activities must have at least one adult with current first aid and CPR/AED certification present during all events. Additionally, coaches and chaperones who accompany teams on overnight trips must undergo criminal background checks before they can work with young athletes; this requirement is waived for occasional volunteers not in coaching roles. The bill also stipulates that youth sports organizations cannot hire or approve individuals with certain felony convictions related to child abuse, sexual offenses, or violent crimes. If vetoed by the governor but signed into law anyway, it means the bill's provisions are now enforceable despite the governor’s objections. However, this bill was actually vetoed by Governor Polis on May 17, 2024, so its current status is that it did not become law.

Official Summary

A "youth sports organization" is a private for-profit or not-for-profit organization that, as part of its core function, provides persons who are under 18 years of age the opportunity to participate in scheduled competitive or recreational sporting activities, whether individually or as a team. "Youth sports organization" does not include a neighborhood youth organization, a K-12 school, a licensed child care facility, an institution of higher education, or an organization that provides walk-in-basis sporting activities. A youth sports organization and local government that provides youth athletic activities is required to have at least one adult who possesses a current first aid and CPR/AED education certification present at each youth athletic activity. All youth sports organization coaches who work directly with youth members, and any chaperone who accompanies the youth sports organization on any trip that includes one or more overnight stays, must obtain a criminal history record check prior to employment or approval as a chaperone, and if the coach or chaperone lived outside the U.S. for more than 180 days since the coach's or chaperone's last criminal history record check, the person shall also obtain an international criminal history record check. A volunteer who is not acting in the capacity of a coach or manager and who only occasionally assists with the youth sports organization is not required to obtain a criminal history record check. A youth sports organization shall not hire a person as a coach or approve a person as a chaperone and shall terminate a coach or revoke the approval for a chaperone if a criminal history record check shows that the person has been convicted of felony child abuse, a felony offense involving unlawful sexual behavior, a crime of violence, or any comparable offense committed in another state. A person who takes part in the activities of a youth sports organization but who is not required to obtain a criminal history record check pursuant to this section or is unable to obtain a criminal history record check must at all times be supervised by a person who has been hired or approved after obtaining a criminal history record check. The act requires a local government that provides a youth athletic activity to comply with the criminal history record check requirements. The act creates a cause of action for failing to conduct a background check. A local government offering a local government-sponsored youth athletic activity may charge a person any fees for the required criminal history record check. Information obtained by a local government through the criminal history record check is not subject to the open records act. VETOED by Governor May 17, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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