New Health and Safety Legislation Affecting Schools, Colleges, and Youth Sports
November 21, 2025
Number 54
California passed four bills aimed at strengthening policies for the health, safety, and wellbeing of its young people. The new laws involve changes to existing health and safety legislation pertaining to young athletes, the use of epinephrine auto-injectors in California schools, access to LGBTQ+ resources, and homeless youth access to care.
AB 310
Assembly Bill (AB) 310 amends Health and Safety Code section 124238.5 to strengthen California’s Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act (the Act), which focuses on the safety of athletes in youth sports organizations. Youth sports organizations are defined as any organization, business, nonprofit entity, or local government agency including local educational agencies (LEAs) that sponsor or conduct amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs for persons aged 17 and younger. One of the Act’s goals is to prevent sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes by, for example, encouraging early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
AB 310 delays the deadline for youth sports organizations to ensure access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) at all practices and games from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. However, beginning January 1, 2027, this bill requires all coaches to be certified in CPR and AED use. AB 310 also mandates that each organization maintain a written cardiac emergency response plan and update it annually. The bill refines notification and training requirements and ensures parents receive annual electronic communication about AED locations and emergency procedures.
SB 568
Senate Bill (SB) 568 updates California law on the use of epinephrine in schools by changing terminology from “epinephrine auto-injectors” to “epinephrine delivery systems” and therefore, including new devices such as nasal sprays. The bill expands requirements for LEAs to provide emergency epinephrine by school nurses or trained staff to now also include childcare and preschool programs operated by or under contract with LEAs. The bill also clarifies that each school site, including LEA-operated programs, must maintain accessible emergency epinephrine and that trained volunteers, including childcare employees, are protected under existing liability limits.
SB 568 responds to federal regulatory approval of a nasal epinephrine spray and seeks to close gaps in access for preschool students. According to the bill’s author, this update ensures schools can use modern medication delivery systems and provides clarity to school districts as California expands universal preschool, helping protect children from life-threatening allergic reactions. The bill’s author also noted that there are programs that LEAs may access to obtain to the nasal sprays at low or no-cost.
AB 727
According to AB 727’s author, approximately 41 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year. AB 727 seeks to ensure students in crisis have immediate access to lifesaving resources amid rising bullying and hate crimes.
AB 727 amends Education Code section 215.5, to require California public schools serving grades seven through 12 and public colleges that issue student ID cards to include specific contact information for The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ suicide hotline effective July 1, 2026. The Trevor Project offers free, confidential 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth, who face significantly higher suicide risks. The notice must notify the pupils that the resource is available through a phone number or may be accessed by text. This new requirement is an addition to the already existing requirement that California public schools include the 988 suicide hotline on student ID cards.
AB 677
AB 677 allows schools to share limited directory information with nonprofit providers to arrange free eye or oral health exams, unless a parent, guardian, or student with parental rights submits written notice opting out. Senate amendments specify that this information may be used only for these health services and encourages schools to contact families through alternative methods instead of mail.
The intent of AB 677 was to remove barriers under current laws requiring written parental consent, which purportedly made it difficult for unhoused students to participate in school-based screenings.
Takeaways
Together, AB 310, SB 568, AB 727, and AB 677 reflect a push by California lawmakers to strengthen and refine policies, duties, and responsibilities related to student and youth health and safety.
Affected agencies should review existing policies and procedures to determine whether any changes are necessary in order to address or otherwise comply with the requirements of these bills. If you have any questions about these bills, please contact the authors of this Client News Brief or an attorney at one of our eight offices located statewide. You can also subscribe to our podcast, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or download our mobile app.
Number 54
California passed four bills aimed at strengthening policies for the health, safety, and wellbeing of its young people. The new laws involve changes to existing health and safety legislation pertaining to young athletes, the use of epinephrine auto-injectors in California schools, access to LGBTQ+ resources, and homeless youth access to care.
AB 310
Assembly Bill (AB) 310 amends Health and Safety Code section 124238.5 to strengthen California’s Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act (the Act), which focuses on the safety of athletes in youth sports organizations. Youth sports organizations are defined as any organization, business, nonprofit entity, or local government agency including local educational agencies (LEAs) that sponsor or conduct amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs for persons aged 17 and younger. One of the Act’s goals is to prevent sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes by, for example, encouraging early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
AB 310 delays the deadline for youth sports organizations to ensure access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) at all practices and games from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. However, beginning January 1, 2027, this bill requires all coaches to be certified in CPR and AED use. AB 310 also mandates that each organization maintain a written cardiac emergency response plan and update it annually. The bill refines notification and training requirements and ensures parents receive annual electronic communication about AED locations and emergency procedures.
SB 568
Senate Bill (SB) 568 updates California law on the use of epinephrine in schools by changing terminology from “epinephrine auto-injectors” to “epinephrine delivery systems” and therefore, including new devices such as nasal sprays. The bill expands requirements for LEAs to provide emergency epinephrine by school nurses or trained staff to now also include childcare and preschool programs operated by or under contract with LEAs. The bill also clarifies that each school site, including LEA-operated programs, must maintain accessible emergency epinephrine and that trained volunteers, including childcare employees, are protected under existing liability limits.
SB 568 responds to federal regulatory approval of a nasal epinephrine spray and seeks to close gaps in access for preschool students. According to the bill’s author, this update ensures schools can use modern medication delivery systems and provides clarity to school districts as California expands universal preschool, helping protect children from life-threatening allergic reactions. The bill’s author also noted that there are programs that LEAs may access to obtain to the nasal sprays at low or no-cost.
AB 727
According to AB 727’s author, approximately 41 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year. AB 727 seeks to ensure students in crisis have immediate access to lifesaving resources amid rising bullying and hate crimes.
AB 727 amends Education Code section 215.5, to require California public schools serving grades seven through 12 and public colleges that issue student ID cards to include specific contact information for The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ suicide hotline effective July 1, 2026. The Trevor Project offers free, confidential 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth, who face significantly higher suicide risks. The notice must notify the pupils that the resource is available through a phone number or may be accessed by text. This new requirement is an addition to the already existing requirement that California public schools include the 988 suicide hotline on student ID cards.
AB 677
AB 677 allows schools to share limited directory information with nonprofit providers to arrange free eye or oral health exams, unless a parent, guardian, or student with parental rights submits written notice opting out. Senate amendments specify that this information may be used only for these health services and encourages schools to contact families through alternative methods instead of mail.
The intent of AB 677 was to remove barriers under current laws requiring written parental consent, which purportedly made it difficult for unhoused students to participate in school-based screenings.
Takeaways
Together, AB 310, SB 568, AB 727, and AB 677 reflect a push by California lawmakers to strengthen and refine policies, duties, and responsibilities related to student and youth health and safety.
Affected agencies should review existing policies and procedures to determine whether any changes are necessary in order to address or otherwise comply with the requirements of these bills. If you have any questions about these bills, please contact the authors of this Client News Brief or an attorney at one of our eight offices located statewide. You can also subscribe to our podcast, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or download our mobile app.
As the information contained herein is necessarily general, its application to a particular set of facts and circumstances may vary. For this reason, this News Brief does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your counsel prior to acting on the information contained herein.
