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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for coaches of youth sports programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 13, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 2053 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2053. REQUIREMENTS FOR COACHES OF YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 2053.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Coach" means a person who provides training, |
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teaching, or similar services to participants in a youth sports |
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program. |
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(2) "Youth sports program" means an entity that |
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provides an organized athletic program that is not associated with |
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a school and is for children who are enrolled in kindergarten |
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through sixth grade in a public, private, or charter school or |
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children of similar age who are provided an education in a home |
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setting. |
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Sec. 2053.002. TRAINING AND CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECK |
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REQUIRED. (a) A person may not act as a coach for a youth sports |
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program unless the person has successfully completed a youth sports |
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training course that meets the requirements of this chapter and |
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rules adopted under this chapter and includes a criminal history |
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record check ascertaining whether the person is registered as a sex |
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offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(b) A youth sports training course required by this section |
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may be offered or facilitated only by a sports foundation, a |
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nonprofit national youth sports organization that requires and |
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administers a participant certification program, a coaches |
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association, a national governing body as that term is defined by |
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the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (36 U.S.C. Section |
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220501), or a public or private high school or middle school |
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athletic department. |
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(c) A youth sports training course must include: |
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(1) at least two hours of in-person or online specific |
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sport skills-based coaching instruction; and |
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(2) at least two hours of in-person non-skills-based |
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coaching instruction that, at a minimum, addresses: |
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(A) the role of a youth sports coach; |
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(B) communication and accountability by and |
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between coaches, participants, and parents; |
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(C) suggestions for teaching and modeling life |
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skills; |
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(D) child developmental stages and corresponding |
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age-appropriate communication and discipline; and |
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(E) the health, safety, and legal |
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responsibilities of coaches. |
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Sec. 2053.003. LIABILITY INSURANCE INFORMATION. An |
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organization that provides a youth sports training course may offer |
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to coaches attending the course information on the availability of |
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liability insurance for the coaches and their players. |
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Sec. 2053.004. RULES. The Texas Commission of Licensing |
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and Regulation may adopt the rules necessary to implement this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt any rules |
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necessary to implement Chapter 2053, Occupations Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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(b) The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a coach |
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who is coaching a youth sports program for a sports season that |
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begins on or after January 1, 2016. A coach who is coaching a youth |
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sports program during a sports season that began before that date is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |