Colorado rejects background checks for youth sports leagues

Colorado senators have rejected an ambitious plan to start the nation’s first requirement for criminal background checks for people who work for youth sports organizations.

The party-line vote of two Democrats favoring the requirement and three Republicans against it came after hours of emotional testimony Wednesday from abuse survivors.

The bill would have set prevented convicted sex offenders from working directly with underage athletes, or from volunteering on overnight trips with sports clubs outside schools. Many private clubs already require background checks, but there is no requirement.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee said the proposal was incomplete and amounted to improper state meddling in private organizations.