The Health and Safety Code defines a youth sports organization as an organization, business, nonprofit entity, or a local governmental agency that sponsors or conducts amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs in which persons 17 years of age or younger participate. Existing law requires youth sports organizations to comply with specified concussion and sudden cardiac arrest prevention protocols. These protocols include, but are not limited to, offering annual education or related materials to each youth sports organization coach, administrator, and referee, umpire, or other game official. These materials must include information relating to the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), if it is available, in the event of a cardiac emergency.
The California Youth Football Act currently requires youth sports organizations that conduct tackle football programs to comply with certain protocols. These protocols include requiring coaches to annually receive first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED certification, and requiring at least one independent non-rostered individual to be present at all practice locations that has current and active certifications in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator (AED), and concussion protocols.
Assembly Bill 1467 (AB 1467) enacts the Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act. Beginning on January 1, 2027, each youth sports organization that offers an athletic program will be required to make an AED available to the athletes during any official practice or match. An official practice is defined as any sport session in which live action or one or more drills are conducted and a match is defined as a match as scheduled by the youth sports organization, the coach, or other designee of the organization. AB 1467 requires that if an AED is administered during an applicable medical circumstance, it must be administered by a medical professional, coach, or other person designated by the youth sports organization, who holds AED certification and who complies with any other qualifications required pursuant to federal and state law applicable to the use of an AED.
While not stated explicitly, the Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act essentially requires youth sports organizations to have an individual present at all practices and matches that has a current and active AED certification and any other qualifications required by federal and state law to administer an AED in the event it is required.
(AB 1467 adds Article 2.6 (commencing with Section 124238) to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code.)