“Parents signing their kids up for community sports leagues like soccer may want to consider this: Not all volunteer coaches undergo criminal background checks.
California law requires school districts to order background checks for all sports coaches, but it’s quiet on the matter of community sports coaches, who are mostly parent volunteers.
Large youth sports organizations such as Little League and the American Youth Soccer Organization require coaches to undergo background checks, but many of the smaller community programs do not.
Assembly Bill 465 by Democrat Susan Bonilla of Concord and Republican Brian Maienschein of San Diego would give youth sports programs the express authority to require criminal background checks on volunteer coaches and be notified by the Department of Justice of any subsequent arrests.
The bill passed its final vote Thursday and is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s consideration.”
