AB 1985: Student health: athletic coaches and trainers: mental health training.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state.

This bill, which would be known as Sarah Shulze’s Law, would require each campus of the California State University, each community college of a community college district, and each private postsecondary educational institution and independent institution of higher education that receives state financial assistance, and would request each campus of the University of California, to require a person who serves as a coach or trainer in an athletic program, as a condition of the person’s employment or volunteer service, to complete a student mental health training on or before July 1, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter. The bill would require the training, at a minimum, to cover suicide prevention education and would authorize the training to be provided by an entity that offers free, online, or other types of training courses. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.