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SB 100

Youth Sports Safety Requirements

2026 Regular Session

SB 26-100 requires expanded background checks for youth activity staff and mandates on-site first aid/CPR/AED certification to improve safety.

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Bill Summary · SB 100

Summary of SB 26-100: Youth Sports Safety Requirements (Colorado, 2026)

Objective

SB 26-100 aims to strengthen safety and oversight in youth sports by tightening background-check requirements for coaches and chaperones, expanding the scope to include volunteers who assist on trips, and ensuring on-site medical readiness through mandatory first aid, CPR, and AED certification at youth athletic activities.

Key Provisions

1) Expanded Background Checks

  • Applies to:
    • Coaches and chaperones (including those accompanying overnight trips) involved in youth athletic activities.
    • Volunteers who assist but are not required to obtain checks must be supervised by someone who has a completed check.
  • Frequency and scope:
    • Criminal history checks must be conducted prior to employment/approval and every three years for the duration of involvement.
    • Checks cover a seven-year history and include aliases; must be performed by a private consumer reporting agency as regulated under federal law. Extended/review requirements for those who lived outside the U.S.:
    • If a coach/chaperone lived outside the United States for more than 180 days in the past 10 years (or since the last check), an international criminal history check is required, including aliases and a disclosure of sexual offenses and felony convictions.
    • Exemption: individuals in the country on an international work visa are exempt from the international check.
  • Disqualifying factors:
    • Individuals convicted of felony child abuse, felony offenses involving unlawful sexual behavior, crimes of violence, or other crimes listed in specified state statutes are disqualified from employment/approval.
  • Verification and supervision:
    • If a person is not eligible or unable to obtain a required background check, the local government must ensure they are supervised at all times by someone who has completed a qualifying background check.

2) First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification

  • Each youth athletic activity must have at least one adult present who holds current first aid, CPR, and AED certification.
  • Volunteer-only activities for training purposes are exempt from the certification requirement, though volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain certification.
  • Certification curriculum must cover:
    • Identifying and treating heat/cold-related conditions
    • External bleeding
    • Muscular and skeletal injuries
    • Head, neck, and spinal injuries
    • CPR and AED training
  • Local governments and youth sports organizations may designate acceptable courses to meet these requirements.

3) Civil Action for Noncompliance

  • The bill creates a civil cause of action for failures to perform required background checks.
  • Plaintiff must demonstrate specific facts, including that the organization or local government did not perform the required check, and that noncompliance led to injury or other listed harms.
  • The action focuses on deliberate indifference or reckless disregard rather than ordinary negligence.

4) Definitions and Related Provisions

  • Adds/clarifies terms:
    • “Capone” (note: text shows “CAPERONE” as a defined term for an overnight trip companion) refers to an individual accompanying a youth sports organization on an official trip with overnight stays.
    • “Youth athletic activity” defined as organized activity with a majority under 18, excluding incidental or non-athletic programs.
  • Background-check framework also interacts with existing Colorado laws on background checks (29-7.1 series) and public records access.
  • Effective date: 90 days after adjournment sine die of the 2026 legislative session (roughly August 2026), subject to referendum petition as applicable.

Who Is Affected

  • Youth sports organizations and local governments that operate youth athletic activities.
  • Paid coaches, volunteer coaches, chaperones, and other individuals directly involved in youth athletic activities.
  • Volunteers who assist but are not subject to the background check requirements must be supervised by someone who has been checked.
  • Administrative and legal responsibilities for compliance, potential civil liability for failure to perform background checks.

Timeline and Process

  • Background checks: every three years; seven-year history plus aliases; international checks if applicable.
  • July 1 annual requirement for local governments to re-check those not checked in the last three years (per the related section on ongoing checks for personnel).
  • Effective date: roughly late August 2026, with potential referendum delay.

Fiscal and Administrative Impact (as per initial fiscal note)

  • Minimal ongoing state costs; no new appropriations required.
  • Local governments face increased workload and costs to implement and monitor compliance, including background checks, certifications, and supervision requirements.
  • Possible minor impact on judicial/agency workloads due to civil actions related to noncompliance.
  • Revenue effects from potential civil filings exist but are uncertain and subject to TABOR.

Note: The above reflects the introduced version of SB 26-100. Amendments could adjust scope, timelines, or financial impacts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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