education
California coaches would need mental-health training
The new rules would cover public colleges and private campuses that get state aid. They also require suicide-prevention training and give campuses until July 1, 2028, to comply.
AB 1985 would require athletic coaches at California colleges to complete mental-health training aimed at spotting student distress sooner. The bill sets a July 1, 2028 deadline and leaves the University of California to help identify usable programs.
- Coaches at California colleges would need mental-health training.
- The training must include suicide-prevention education.
- The deadline is July 1, 2028.
- UC would be asked to compile usable programs, not required to adopt them.
- In California, athletic coaches at public colleges and some private campuses that receive state financial assistance would have to complete mental-health training meant to help them spot trouble sooner
Athletic coaches at California’s public colleges and private campuses that get state aid would have to take mental-health training meant to help them spot student distress sooner. AB 1985 would also add the requirement to the state’s education laws.
The training would have to meet minimum standards set by the state’s Surgeon General and, at a minimum, cover suicide-prevention education. It could also include mental-health first aid.
The adults closest to the grind
The bill reaches the California State University system, the California Community Colleges and qualifying private and independent postsecondary institutions. The University of California would not be required to act, but would be asked to identify and compile training programs campuses could use.
That puts coaches in a more explicit role as an early checkpoint for student-athletes, who can spend far more time with athletic staff than with a counselor or dean. The bill does not rewrite campus mental-health services, but it does try to make the people on the sideline better at noticing when a student may need help.
A deadline on the calendar
The training would have to be in place by July 1, 2028. After that, the requirement would sit inside the state’s education code rather than rely on each campus to decide on its own whether to build something similar.
Available vote records show the bill advanced without recorded no votes.