Florida law sets background check rules for youth sports coaches

Independent sanctioning authorities conduct Level 2 background checks on current and prospective athletic coaches. This covers paid and volunteer coaches, assistant coaches, managers, and referees who have direct contact with minors on youth teams assembled and primarily practicing and competing in Florida. The authority may not delegate the checks to an individual team. A disqualified person may coach after completing the exemption process. A person under 18 or a disqualified referee may instead qualify for a Level 1 check and direct supervision by a coach who meets the screening rules. The screening requirements take effect July 1, 2026.

Qualified entities designate a user administrator and follow the stated process for requesting and receiving criminal history records. This covers qualified entities requesting background checks on employees, volunteers, or people applying for those roles. Entities must register, agree to follow state and federal law, and keep a signed waiver allowing release of records. The clearinghouse may provide records to an independent sanctioning authority only if it complies with the named federal youth sports safety law. The agency request process starts January 1, 2026, or a later date set by the health care agency. The department provides records directly through December 31, 2025, or a later date it sets.

The law identifies cases when people with sealed or expunged records cannot deny or fail to acknowledge covered arrests, and when agencies may receive record information. This covers people whose criminal history records have been sealed or expunged, and the agencies and employers listed in the law. Exceptions include certain criminal justice, school, child care, licensing, and employment screenings, as well as people screened through the clearinghouse. The department discloses records to specified agencies for licensing, access, and employment decisions. Those agencies generally may share the information only with the person or people responsible for those decisions. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.