Sponsors Release Statement on Bills to Make Youth Sports Safer

DENVER, CO – Senate President Pro Tempore James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, the sponsors of SB24-113, and Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, sponsors of HB24-1080, released the following statement today regarding their bills to make youth sports safer in Colorado:

"Youth sports are important for kids to grow, play, and learn - and when families sign their kids up for youth sports programs, they should be able to trust their kids are safe. We've worked hard this session on policies that ensure adults who run youth sports are safe, and can be trusted to be around our children. SB 113 requires youth sports coaches to complete abuse prevention training and abide by a code of conduct policy, while also establishing a process for handling violations of the policy. And HB 1080 requires background checks and CPR training for youth sports coaches. Taken together, these measures ensure children participating in out-of-school sports programs are surrounded by adults who have gone through background checks and basic health and safety training. We urge Governor Polis to sign both pieces of legislation into law, to keep kids safe."