Committee approves measure requiring colleges to adopt athlete-protection policies

The House Education Committee voted to recommend HB479, a bill requiring Utah’s public degree-granting institutions to develop policies addressing coach conduct, complaint procedures and protections for student-athletes.

Representative Hayes, sponsor of the bill, said the measure was prompted by allegations of abusive coaching practices that included verbal insults, physical intimidation and dismissive treatment of injuries at more than one university. Hayes said the intent is to require institutions to define minimum standards, require timely follow-up on complaints, and ensure boards of trustees and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) review adopted policies.

The bill lists minimum elements that institutional policies must include, such as definitions of prohibited conduct, a process for reporting and investigating complaints, and requirements for timeliness and transparency of the investigation and any disciplinary steps. Hayes said the approach is a structural framework rather than a prescriptive code and allows institutions to tailor specifics to their programs.

Committee members raised concerns about subjective terms such as “unsafe,” “harmful,” “offensive” and “abusive.” Representative McPherson and others asked whether definitions in code exist and whether the bill could produce inconsistent interpretations across institutions. Representative DeFe offered an amendment (adopted) that clarifies several definitions and narrows terminology where appropriate.

With the amendment in place, the committee voted to recommend HB479 favorably. Representative Peck said he would still vote no, citing remaining concerns about language subjectivity, but the motion passed with a majority vote. Sponsors said they would continue working on clarifying definitions as the bill moves forward.