Bill
HB 6019
Implements statewide safety standards for organized youth sports with voluntary organizer certification, mandatory background checks and training, plus DHHS grants to help meet basics.
Status (most recent): Introduced January 22, 2025; bill text electronically reproduced 09/26/2024. Subsequent legislative activity includes referral to multiple committees; later listed as indefinitely postponed/withdrawn and died in Ways & Means Committee (May–June 2025). Not enacted.
Purpose
- Establish statewide minimum safety and conduct standards for organized youth sports programs.
- Create a voluntary certification program for organizing entities that meet “basic” or “advanced” standards.
- Assign duties to the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (Michigan State University) and the Department of Health and Human Services, including a grant program to help entities meet standards.
Key definitions
- “Organizing entity”: public or private entity whose core function is organizing/supervising youth sports (excludes one‑time events and entities under Michigan High School Athletic Association jurisdiction).
- “Youth athlete”: person under 18 participating in youth sports.
- “Protecting Youth Athletes modules”: National Alliance for Youth Sports modules (subject to institute approval).
Main provisions
Duties are subject to available appropriations.
Basic standards (Sec. 7) — required baseline
Adopt and publish site‑specific Emergency Action Plan and severe weather/heat policy.
Annual criminal background checks for adult staff/volunteers with more-than-incidental contact; disqualifies persons with listed offenses under Michigan’s Sex Offenders Registration Act (MCL 28.722).
Coaches and administrators must sign a published code of conduct.
Mandatory coach training: Protecting Youth Athletes modules; CPR and AED training meeting school code requirements (MCL 380.1319).
Concussion training for coaches, each youth athlete, and a parent/guardian (meets public health code §§ 333.9155–333.9156).
Regular checks of equipment and practice/competition sites for safety.
Advanced standards (Sec. 9) — basic standards plus additional measures
Designate a safety manager and adopt one or more of: injury‑prevention plan, on‑site injury evaluation space, athletic trainer at competitions, or coach first‑aid certification.
Expanded coach training topics (management, safe practices, inclusivity, disabilities, mental‑health recognition, substance use including ergogenic/performance‑enhancing drugs, nutrition/hydration).
Parental involvement options: sign code of conduct or complete Protecting Youth Athletes parent modules.
Referees/officials: code of conduct and optional inclusivity/parent modules.
Rulemaking (Sec. 11)
DHHS may promulgate implementing rules under the Administrative Procedures Act.
Who would be affected
- Local and private youth leagues, clubs, and community organizations that organize youth sports (not MHSAA). Coaches, administrators, referees, youth athletes, and parents would face new training, conduct, and background check requirements. Smaller or low‑income programs could receive grant assistance if appropriated.
Procedural/implementation notes
- Certification is voluntary, but the annual background‑check requirement (Sec. 7(b)) applies even to uncertified entities.
- Many training requirements reference existing statutory standards (school code and public health code).
- Implementation and grants depend on legislative appropriations; rulemaking by DHHS is authorized.
- As of mid‑2025 the bill had not advanced to enactment (indefinitely postponed/died in committee).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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