Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires employees and volunteer coaches to obtain a criminal background check if they travel for games with an overnight stay in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires all employees and volunteer coaches to obtain a criminal background check if they travel for games with an overnight stay in Colorado (Sec. 2).

• Defines “coach” as an individual employed as or volunteering as a coach, manager, or supervisor of a youth athletic activity but does not include occasional assistance with or support of the youth athletic activity by an individual, including the action of other volunteers or employees of the youth sports organization in a passing, general, or nominal manner (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes local governments and youth sports organizations to establish code of conduct policy related to youth athletic activities and requires coaches, spectators, and parents to comply or face disciplinary action (Sec. 2).

• Defines “youth sports organization” as a private, for-profit, or not-for-profit organization that provides individuals under the age of 18 with the opportunity to participate in scheduled competitive or recreational sporting activities, whether as a team or individually (Sec. 2).

• Exempts the following examples from the definition of a youth sports organization, including (Sec. 2):

• A neighborhood youth organization;

• Any private or public K-12 school;

• A licensed child-care facility;

• A public or private institution of higher education; or

• An organization that merely provides the opportunity to participate in an unsupervised, unscheduled competitive or recreational sporting event on a walk-in basis.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following the final adjournment date of the current legislative session (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires employees and volunteer coaches would also have to obtain a criminal background check if they travel for games with an overnight stay in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires all employees and volunteer coaches to obtain a criminal background check if they travel for games with an overnight stay in Colorado (Sec. 2).

• Defines “coach” as an individual employed as or volunteering as a coach, manager, or supervisor of a youth athletic activity but does not include occasional assistance with or support of the youth athletic activity by an individual, including the action of other volunteers or employees of the youth sports organization in a passing, general, or nominal manner (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes local governments and youth sports organizations to establish code of conduct policy related to youth athletic activities and requires coaches, spectators, and parents to comply or face disciplinary action (Sec. 2).

• Defines “youth sports organization” as a private, for-profit, or not-for-profit organization that provides individuals under the age of 18 with the opportunity to participate in scheduled competitive or recreational sporting activities, whether as a team or individually (Sec. 2).

• Exempts the following examples from the definition of a youth sports organization, including (Sec. 2):

• A neighborhood youth organization;

• Any private or public K-12 school;

• A licensed child-care facility;

• A public or private institution of higher education; or

• An organization that merely provides the opportunity to participate in an unsupervised, unscheduled competitive or recreational sporting event on a walk-in basis.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following the final adjournment date of the current legislative session (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text