Assembly committee advances bill to standardize verification and training for high-school sports officials

Assemblymember Alanis presented AB 1572 at a California State Assembly committee hearing in State Capitol Room 444, saying the bill would require the California Interscholastic Federation to carry out annual reviews of officials' safety training and provide an accessible online platform for schools to verify referees’ and umpires’ qualifications.

"Every day, hundreds of thousands of students participate in school athletics," Assemblymember Alanis said, arguing schools need a clear, centralized way to confirm that the adults officiating contests meet consistent safety and qualification standards.

The bill drew technical support from the California Interscholastic Federation. Michelle McKay Underwood of CIF told the committee she was present "to answer any questions" and registered CIF's support for the measure. Underwood described the CIF’s role in overseeing competition standards and said CIF staff could help implement verification tools.

Opponents during public comment raised sharply different concerns. Beth Bourne, speaking for a group she identified as the Coalition of Sane People and Mothers, said the measure would force coaches to accept messaging about gender identity and allow boys to compete in girls’ sports and use girls’ locker rooms. "What this is trying to do is force coaches to comply... to tell children that they are born in the wrong body," Bourne said.

Committee members framed the bill as an extension of an existing pilot program and stressed its safety aims. The chair and members noted that referees and other officials interact daily with student athletes and argued that consistent vetting and transparency can protect students and strengthen trust between schools and families.

With a quorum established, Vice Chair Lackey moved the measure and Assemblymember Zuber seconded. The committee recorded ayes and the chair announced that AB 1572 would be forwarded to the Assembly Committee on Education; the roll was held open for absent members.

The committee did not adopt substantive changes on the floor at this hearing; the file was transmitted to the Assembly Committee on Education for further consideration.