Bill would let parents know if coaches are screened

Denied even tougher requirements, San Diego Assemblyman Brian Maienschein continues his push to gradually improve background check rules for community-based youth sports coaches.

The Republican’s latest measure would require youth sports programs to disclose to parents whether they do, in fact, screen coaches.

Currently, programs are not required to conduct background checks, nor are they forced to let parents know that coaches have not been vetted for criminal histories.

“As a result, children across the state still face risks from predators looking to access children,” Maienschein said.

Debra Rogers, who represents the San Diego-based Alliance for Background Checks in Youth Sports, said the measure will give parents the answers they need when determining whether their children should participate. Programs that do not screen coaches could be pressured to do so, she said.

“Parents can make choices and have their voice heard,” Rogers said.

However, Assembly Bill 230 does not require officials to divulge any red flags a check may reveal. If signed into law, the measure would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016.

The legislation is pending before the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development. It passed the full Assembly unanimously.

Maienschein, who has coached and has two children, previously carried legislation that would have imposed background checks. But he ran into resistance over costs and was forced to retreat to the more modest measure that simply authorizes programs to do background checks, but does not impose a requirement. That bill was signed into law last year.

“It was important to get something rather than nothing,” he said.

Maienschein said he hopes to eventually resurrect a mandatory background check.

“I haven’t given up on that. This is the most I would be able to get through now. I am going to keep building on it,” he said.

Background checks run by the state cost $32. Reviews using federal information is $15. Fingerprints range between $10 and $35, according to figures provided by the Legislature.

Many national youth sports programs, such as Little League, already voluntarily require coaches and volunteers to be fingerprinted and screened,