Concerning information about youth athlete mental health training, and, in connection therewith, requiring mental health training for youth sports coaches and requiring the coaches to notify parents of possible mental health risks associated...
SB26-060, titled the “Alyssa’s Youth Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act,” expands Colorado’s youth sports concussion laws to address mental health as well as physical injury. The bill requires coaches of organized youth athletic activities to complete mental health education: coaches in public and private middle schools, junior highs, and high schools must take the course every two years, while coaches hired or contracted by private clubs, public recreation facilities, and athletic leagues must complete it annually. The required training must cover the coach’s influence on youth mental health, wellness frameworks, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, and suicide prevention.
The bill also requires that when a youth athlete is removed from play for a suspected concussion, the coach or other designated personnel must notify the athlete’s parent or legal guardian and advise them to seek evaluation from a licensed health-care provider for medical and behavioral health guidance. In addition, it amends Colorado’s existing youth concussion law to require concussion-recognition education for school coaches to include information about the relationship between concussions and mental health and the possible psychological effects of a concussion.
In practical terms, the bill adds new duties for schools, clubs, leagues, and recreation facilities that sponsor youth sports, and it creates a limited civil-liability protection for coaches who act in good faith to comply, except in cases of gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct. It also preserves existing immunity and liability protections for public entities, volunteers, nonprofit directors, and ski area operators under current Colorado law.
The available record shows no committee transcript excerpts or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor debate to indicate broad support or opposition. The bill’s structure and final enactment suggest a generally favorable reception, likely reflecting concern for youth athlete safety and mental health awareness. The main policy tension is between expanding coach training and notification obligations versus concerns about added compliance burdens and potential liability exposure, though the bill expressly limits liability for good-faith compliance.
The bill creates a new part of Colorado Revised Statutes title 25, article 43, establishing mandatory mental health education requirements for youth athletic coaches and a parent-notification duty after suspected concussions. It also amends the existing youth concussion statute to add mental health content to required concussion-recognition training. The measure affects public and private schools, athletic leagues, clubs, and public recreation facilities that sponsor youth athletic activities, while preserving existing governmental immunity and related liability protections.
The bill appears to have been viewed positively overall, as reflected by its enactment and its focus on youth safety, concussion awareness, and mental health support. No committee testimony or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition in the available materials. The policy framing suggests bipartisan or broadly shared concern for protecting young athletes and informing parents about potential psychological effects of concussions.
The main points of contention likely concern implementation burden and liability. Schools, clubs, leagues, and recreation facilities must ensure coaches complete recurring mental health training and must notify parents after suspected concussions, which could raise administrative and staffing concerns. At the same time, the bill addresses liability by shielding coaches who act in good faith, except for gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct, and it explicitly preserves existing immunity protections for public entities, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and ski area operators.