Lawmakers endorse adding school coaches as mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect, but not clergy

By: Seth Tupper, John Hult

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: February 12, 2026

Words: 560

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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Debates about which types of authority figures should be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect ended in one proposal’s failure and another’s advancement Wednesday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre.

The state House of Representatives approved a bill that would add coaches of school activities to a list of mandatory reporters in state law that includes teachers, health care providers, child care workers and others. The bill’s next stop is a state …

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