California coaches would need mental-health training

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.