Lawmakers in Kentucky this week introduced a bill that seeks to make it easier for high school student-athletes to recognize and report abuse.
According to WKTV, the bill, introduced by state senators Cassie Chambers Armstrong and Stephen West, 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 and athlete is being abused.
“Often what we find in these situations is there’s someone who says ‘You know I wish I would’ve taken action sooner, I thought that there was something that wasn’t right' and so by giving people tools and information hopefully we can help keep kids safe,” senator Chambers Armstrong said.
Senator West said he was interested in co-sponsoring because issues surrounding child safety should be non-partisan.
“It wasn’t about politics it’s about shedding light on really terrible subject matter,” West said.
The bill has support from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Commissioner Julian Tackett said the bill will help create a safe space between coaches and athletes.
“I think the problem is that I don’t think everybody knows their responsibility. The problem is not necessarily that there’s too much abuse going on. We don’t know that, but there is an education problem,” said Tackett.
