SB26-100: Your Opposition is Respectfully Requested

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

SB26-100, Youth Sports Safety Requirements, imposes new and unnecessary rules on local recreation programs that will make it harder to recruit volunteers and coaches, and more expensive for kids to participate in sports. SB26-100:

• Requires exhaustive background checks for youth sports coaches and chaperones, potentially interfering with existing employment and volunteer relationships 
  
• Imposes burdensome supervision requirements on already strained youth sports systems 
  
• Creates a new civil private right to file suit against local governments that operate youth sports programs for the private criminal actions of volunteers or coaches, if the municipality did not complete the new expanded background checks or supervision requirements, with insufficient exclusions or protections for administrative errors
  
• Requires an adult with CPR, first aid, and AED certifications at every activity, even when activities are held in a facility where multiple certified adults are already present

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE NO

Municipal sports programs already do the work to protect youth participants. Youth safety can be strengthened without discouraging community-based recreation programs or creating new pathways for costly litigation funded by taxpayers.

SB26-100 would add costs and complications without meaningfully advancing youth safety. The bill significantly expands taxpayer liability and imposes rigid statutory mandates that will make it harder and more expensive to run community athletic activities. 

YOUR NO VOTE IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED

CML respectfully requests your NO vote on SB26-100. 

CONTACT

Owen Brigner | CML legislative & policy advocate | 419-786-9703 | obrigner@cml.org