AB-1985 • 2026

Student health: athletic coaches: mental health training.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Irwin (A) , Pacheco
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on ED.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the consequences for coaches who do not complete the training or the exact costs involved in compliance.

Student Health: Athletic Coaches Mental Health Training

This law requires certain educational institutions in California to provide mental health training for athletic coaches, focusing on suicide prevention education.

What This Bill Does

Requires the California State University and community colleges to identify and compile a list of mental health training programs by July 1, 2028.
Requests private postsecondary educational institutions receiving state financial assistance to do the same as above.
Requires athletic coaches at these institutions to complete one of the listed trainings before starting their job or volunteering, and every two years after.
Includes suicide prevention education in all mental health training programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Athletic coaches working for California State University campuses, community colleges, private postsecondary educational institutions receiving state financial assistance, and independent higher education institutions.

Terms To Know

state-mandated local program: A program where the state requires local agencies or school districts to do something that might cost them money.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a coach fails to complete the required training.
It is unclear how much it will cost educational institutions to comply with this law.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-27 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21).
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7).
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and ED.
2026-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1985, as amended, Irwin.
Student health: athletic coaches: mental health training.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state.
This bill, which would be known as Sarah Shulze’s Law, would require the California State University, the
office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, and each private postsecondary educational institution and independent institution of higher education that receives state financial assistance, and would request the University of California, on or before July 1, 2028, to identify and compile a list of mental health training programs that can be
used to train athletic coaches. The bill would require the trainings, at a minimum, to cover suicide prevention education. The bill would require each campus of the California State University, each community college of a community college district, and each private postsecondary educational institution and independent institution of higher education that receives state financial assistance, and would request each campus of the University of California, to require a person who serves as a coach in an athletic program, as a condition of the person’s employment or volunteer service, to complete one of the identified student mental health trainings on or before July 1, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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