Assemblyman Webber proposes annual background checks for anyone working with student athletes in N.J.
TRENTON, N.J. — Assemblyman Jay Webber, known for authoring New Jersey’s “pass the trash” law in 2018 to keep sexual predators out of classrooms, has introduced new legislation aimed at protecting student athletes from predatory coaches.
The bill, announced Thursday, would mandate annual criminal background checks for anyone working with student athletes.
“This isn’t the Saturday morning Little League of our childhood. This is a multi-billion dollar industry, with the push to discover the next Shohei Ohtani or Caitlin Clark,” said Webber, a Republican from Morris County. “The increasing demand for coaches and trainers and the popularity of travel teams has created more opportunities for our athletes while at the same time increasing their chances of being exposed to harm. Sadly, men and women who want to harm children find ways to work with children. And the lack of regulation and oversight within many youth sports makes it an attractive opportunity for predators.”
Webber’s proposal follows a recent NJ.com investigation that found more than 100 coaches, trainers and sports facility owners across the state have been accused of sex crimes involving minors, with 57 of those cases reported since 2020. The investigation highlighted gaps in background check requirements and the limitations of New Jersey’s sex offender registry, created under Megan’s Law in 1994. According to a 2009 study cited in the report, 72% of Megan’s Law offenders do not appear on the public registry, and only 14 of the 118 coaches accused since 2015 are listed as registered sex offenders online.
The lack of uniform standards means that background check requirements can vary drastically between leagues, leaving parents and athletes vulnerable.
“My children have been in every sport imaginable, and overall sports have provided our kids with tremendous experiences and incredible opportunities,” said Webber, a father of eight and a longtime volunteer coach in baseball, softball, and basketball. “Parents perform their due diligence to keep their kids safe while they enjoy youth sports, but the tools are broken. My bill will create uniform mandates for criminal background checks and tough penalties to encourage compliance for all youth sports coaches, trainers, and anyone working with our young athletes to keep predators away.”
If passed, the legislation would establish consistent statewide requirements for background checks across all youth sports programs.
