Youth Athlete Protection Act; Department of Human Resources (DHR) required to develop model Youth Athlete Protection Policy to prevent child abuse in youth sports; local sports organizations, including local governments, required to implement similar policy and register compliance with DHR, youth sports coaches required to undergo criminal background check and mandatory reporter training, DHR required to adopt rules

HB 103, the Youth Athlete Protection Act, requires youth sports organizations and local governments (such as cities or counties) that provide sports for children under 18 to adopt safety policies to prevent child abuse. The bill mandates that these entities implement policies based on a model developed by the Department of Human Resources (DHR), which includes standards for prohibited conduct (like abuse or harassment), a code of conduct for interactions, and mandatory reporter training for coaches. Coaches - including volunteers - must undergo annual criminal background checks and complete mandatory reporter training to work with youth athletes. Organizations must register annual compliance with DHR, and non-compliant entities are barred from offering youth sports. DHR must adopt implementing rules by January 1, 2027.