Senate Bill 120 passed to protect Kentucky student-athletes from abuse

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – State Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong and Sen. Stephen West cosponsored a bill to ensure the safety of Kentucky student-athletes.

WKYT reports the bill will change the student-athlete consent form each student receives to include information about reporting abuse.

It will also clarify the responsibility of coaches if they have reason to believe an athlete is being abused.

Every year, participating Kentucky student athletes must fill out the consent form. If Senate Bill 120 is passed, it will include specific guidelines for students reporting abuse and coaches who believe abuse is happening.

Armstrong and West say it will highlight the legal obligations of mandated reports in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky High School Athletic Association commissioner Julian Tackett says he believes the bill will give athletes another layer of security because many of them look to their coaches for guidance.

“I think that the problem is that I don’t think everybody knows their responsibility,” he says. “The problem is not necessarily that there’s too much abuse going on. We don’t know that, but there is an education problem.”

Chambers, Armstrong and West say they are glad party lines do not impact the safety of Kentucky children.