Delaware law sets background check requirements for school sports officials

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association must set rules requiring officials’ associations to obtain and review background checks. This covers school sports officials. Their associations must agree to keep background check records and share them with the athletic association on request. The check requirement applies if criminal background checks or child protection registry checks are not already required under Section 309 of Title 31. Checks must include initial and subsequent fingerprint-based state and federal criminal checks and a child protection registry check. Criminal histories that bar employment, contract work, or volunteer service with the Department of Education also bar service as a sports official. Ongoing criminal reports go to the Department of Education, or to the athletic association for officials working with private schools outside the ongoing reporting program. The athletic association must keep release forms so monitoring occurs with the official’s knowledge. The law takes effect on the earlier of July 1, 2027, or the date the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association publishes notice in the Register of Regulations that implementing rules have been issued.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association must include training requirements in its school sports rules. The rules cover middle and secondary school sports. Officials’ training must address bias, harassment prevention, and respecting and including people from different backgrounds. Students must complete their training each year as part of becoming eligible to play. These requirements take effect on the earlier of July 1, 2027, or publication of the athletic association’s notice in the Register of Regulations that implementing rules have been issued.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association must require member schools to cooperate fully with its investigations. This covers schools that belong to the athletic association and investigations of alleged violations of its rules. This requirement takes effect on the earlier of July 1, 2027, or publication of the athletic association’s notice in the Register of Regulations that implementing rules have been issued.