26.873.12 101st Legislative Session 1187

2026 South Dakota Legislature

House Bill 1187

ENROLLED

An Act

ENTITLED An Act to add coaches to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 26-8A-3 be AMENDED:

26-8A-3. Any physician, dentist, doctor of osteopathy, chiropractor, optometrist, emergency medical technician, paramedic, mental health professional or counselor, podiatrist, psychologist, religious healing practitioner, social worker, hospital intern or resident, parole or court services officer, law enforcement officer, coach of a school activity, teacher, school counselor, school official, nurse, licensed or registered child welfare provider, employee or volunteer of a domestic abuse shelter, employee or volunteer of a child advocacy organization or child welfare service provider, chemical dependency counselor, coroner, dental hygienist, or any safety-sensitive position as defined in § 3-6C-1, who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the age of eighteen has been abused or neglected, as defined in § 26-8A-2, shall report that information in accordance with §§ 26-8A-6, 26-8A-7, and 26-8A-8. Any person who intentionally fails to make the required report is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who knows or has reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected as defined in § 26-8A-2 may report that information as provided in § 26-8A-8.

An Act to add coaches to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect.

I certify that the attached Act originated in the:

House as Bill No. 1187

Chief Clerk of the House

Speaker of the House

Attest:

Chief Clerk of the House

President of the Senate

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate

House Bill No. 1187

File No. ____

Chapter No. ______

Received at this Executive Office

this _____ day of _____________,

2026 at ____________M.

By

for the Governor

The attached Act is hereby

approved this ________ day of

______________, A.D., 2026

Governor

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA,

ss.

Office of the Secretary of State

Filed ____________, 2026

at _________ o'clock __M.

Secretary of State

By

Asst. Secretary of State