Signed by Governor Kay Ivey

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires the Alabama Department of Health to enforce the concussion-related Coach Safely Act.

Highlights:

• Specifies that this bill is effective for coaches of high risk youth athletic activities on property owned, leased, or managed by the state (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill does not affect municipalities or agencies and boards of municipalities (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this bill affects athletic directors and coaches of children 14 years of age or younger who have not been admitted into the 7th grade (Sec. 1).

• Defines high risk youth athletic activities to include the following sports (Sec. 1):

• Football; 

• Basketball;

• Volleyball;

• Soccer;

• Ice or field hockey;

• Cheerleading; and 

• Lacrosse. 

• Requires the state Department of Public Health to privately notify the association of noncompliance with the Coach Safely Act after the first year (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department to notify the association in writing of its continued failure to comply after the 2nd year of noncompliance and post a copy of the notice on the Department of Public Health’s website (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department to levy a fine of 10 percent of total revenue reported on the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 against the association after the 3rd year of noncompliance (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the association from administering or conducting any youth athletic activities on state-owned property for a period of 1 year after the 4th year of noncompliance (Sec. 2). 

• Requires notices of noncompliance to include (Sec. 2):

• Instructions on how to comply with the Coach Safely Act; and

• An explanation of the consequences of continued noncompliance.

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is October 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Alabama Department of Health to enforce the concussion-related Coach Safely Act.

Highlights:

• Specifies that this bill is effective for coaches of high risk youth athletic activities on property owned, leased, or managed by the state (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill does not affect municipalities or agencies and boards of municipalities (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this bill affects athletic directors and coaches of children 14 years of age or younger who have not been admitted into the 7th grade (Sec. 1).

• Defines high risk youth athletic activities to include the following sports (Sec. 1):

• Football; 

• Basketball;

• Volleyball;

• Soccer;

• Ice or field hockey;

• Cheerleading; and 

• Lacrosse. 

• Requires the state Department of Public Health to privately notify the association of noncompliance with the Coach Safely Act after the first year (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department to notify the association in writing of its continued failure to comply after the 2nd year of noncompliance and post a copy of the notice on the Department of Public Health’s website (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department to levy a fine of 10 percent of total revenue reported on the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 against the association after the 3rd year of noncompliance (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the association from administering or conducting any youth athletic activities on state-owned property for a period of 1 year after the 4th year of noncompliance (Sec. 2). 

• Requires notices of noncompliance to include (Sec. 2):

• Instructions on how to comply with the Coach Safely Act; and

• An explanation of the consequences of continued noncompliance.

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is October 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text