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Committee adopts amendment to allow two adults of either sex in locker rooms for student privacy and safety
Summary
The committee adopted an amendment to HB 1215 to require two adults be present in locker rooms when coaches of the opposite sex enter; the amendment came at superintendents' request and the bill, as amended, passed the committee by voice vote.
The House Education Committee adopted an amendment to HB 1215 that requires two adults be present in locker rooms when adult staff or volunteers of the opposite sex enter student locker rooms. The amendment, introduced by Representative Bentley, was described as a response to superintendent requests and aims to protect student privacy while permitting halftime coach interactions under controlled conditions.
Representative Bentley said the amendment allows for “2 adults always” and that the adults may be parents, volunteers or school staff; it does not require the second adult to be an employee. She told the committee the amendment was requested by superintendents who said smaller districts sometimes struggle to staff opposite-sex adult presence and that flexibility was needed.
A voice vote adopted the amendment and later approved the bill as amended. Representative Bentley said the change imposes no fiscal impact because the second adult may be a volunteer or parent. Committee members asked questions about fiscal and staffing impacts for small schools; the sponsor responded that the additional adult need not be a paid staff member and that the measure’s intent is to strengthen privacy protections without imposing staffing mandates.
The committee moved HB 1215 as amended to the next stage.
