Mental Health Training in Concussion Education

tt SENATE BILL 26-060

BY SENATOR(S) Pelton R. and Daugherty, Amabile, Ball, Benavidez, Bright, Carson, Cutter, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Winter T. and Hamrick, Boesenecker, Brown, Clifford, Duran, Froelich, Jackson, Joseph, Lieder, Lindsay, McCormick, Nguyen, Phillips, Rutinel, Rydin, Smith, Stewart K., Story, McCluskie.

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 WITH CONCUSSIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 2 to article 43 of title 25 as follows: PART2 YOUTH ATHLETIC COACH

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act.

MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

25-43-201. Short title. THE SHORT TITLE OF THIS PART 2 IS "ALYSSA'S YOUTH CONCUSSION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROTECTION ACT" OR "ALYSSA'S ACT".

25-43-202. Definitions. AS USED IN THIS PART 2, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES: ( 1) "PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITY" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 25-43-102. (2) "YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITY" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 25-43-102.

25-43-203. Organized school athletic activities - mental health guidelines required. (1) (a) EACH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL SHALL REQUIRE EACH COACH OF A YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITY TO COMPLETE A BIENNIAL MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION COURSE.

(b) EACH PRIVATE CLUB OR PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITY AND EACH ATHLETIC LEAGUE THAT SPONSORS YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES SHALL REQUIRE EACH COACH WITH WHOM A CLUB, FACILITY, OR LEAGUE DIRECTLY CONTRACTS WITH, FORMALLY ENGAGES, OR EMPLOYS TO COACH A YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITY TO COMPLETE A BIENNIAL MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION COURSE. (2) (a)

THE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION COURSE REQUIRED BY

SUBSECTION ( 1) OF THIS SECTION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING: (I) ACOACH'SIMPACTONTHEMENTALHEALTHOFYOUTHATHLETES;

(II) A WELLNESS FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH ATHLETES;

(III) STRESS, ANXIETY DISORDERS, AND DEPRESSION; (IV) TRAUMA; (V) SUBSTANCE ABUSE; AND (VI) SUICIDE PREVENTION.

(b)

THE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION COURSE MAY BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONCUSSION RECOGNITION EDUCATION COURSE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 25-43-103 (l)(a).

(c) AN ORGANIZATION OR ASSOCIATION THAT A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A MEMBER OF MAY DESIGNATE SPECIFIC EDUCATION COURSES AS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION ( 1) OF THIS SECTION. (3) IF A YOUTH ATHLETE IS REMOVED FROM PLAY FOR A SUSPECTED CONCUSSION, THE YOUTH ATHLETE'S COACH OR THE CLUB'S, LEAGUE'S, OR PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITY'S OTHER DESIGNATED PERSONNEL SHALL NOTIFY THE ATHLETE'S PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN AND ADVISE THAT THE ATHLETE SEEK EVALUATION FROM A LICENSED HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER FOR APPROPRIATE MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GUIDANCE REGARDING POTENTIAL

PHYSICAL,

COGNITIVE,

OR

PSYCHOLOGICAL

SYMPTOMS

ASSOCIATED WITH A CONCUSSION. (4) NOTHING IN THIS PART 2 ABROGATES OR LIMITS THE PROTECTIONS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC ENTITIES AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE "COLORADO GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY ACT", ARTICLE 10 OF TITLE 24; VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD MEMBERS AND NONPROFIT DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND TRUSTEES DESCRIBED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13-21-115.7 AND 13-21-116;ORSKIAREAOPERATORSPROTECTED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 33-44-112 AND 33-44-113. (5) AN ATHLETIC COACH OF A YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITY WHO IS NOT ENTITLED TO ANY OF THE PROTECTIONS PRESERVED IN SUBSECTION ( 4) OF THIS SECTION AND WHO ACTS IN GOOD FAITH TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PART 2 IS NOT SUBJECT TO CIVIL LIABILITY FOR ANY ACTOROMISSIONRELATEDTOTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHISPART2 UNLESS THE ACT OR OMISSION CONSTITUTES GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL AND

WANTON MISCONDUCT.

SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 25-43-101 as follows: 25-43-101. Short title. This article PART 1 shall be known and may be cited as the "Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act".

SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-43-102, amend the introductory portion as follows: 25-43-102. Definitions. As used in this article 43 PART 1, unless the context otherwise reqmres:

SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-43-103, amend (5) as follows: 25-43-103. Organized school athletic activities - concussion guidelines required. (5) Nothing in this article PART 1 abrogates or limits the protections applicable to public entities and public employees pursuant to the "Colorado Governmental Immunity Act", article 10 of title 24; C.R.S., volunteers and board members pursuantto sections 13-21-115.7 and 13-21-116; C.R.S., or ski area operators pursuant to sections 33-44-112 and 33-44-113. C.R.S.

SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless

approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

James Rashad Coleman, Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

APPROVED on Tuesday May 5th 2026 at 3:00pm (Date and Time)

Jared S. Polis GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO