California Youth Football Act: safety equipment., the official text

An act to add Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law, the California Youth Football Act, requires a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program to comply with certain requirements, including, among other things, not conducting more than 2 full-contact practices per week during the preseason and regular season, not holding a full-contact practice during the off-season, and having each football helmet reconditioned and recertified every other year, as specified.
This bill would require a youth tackle football league, youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or coach of a youth sports organization to allow youth tackle football participants to use safety equipment, including soft-shelled add-ons on football helmets. The bill would authorize a court to grant injunctive relief to remedy a violation or threatened violation of this requirement, and would entitle a prevailing plaintiff who obtains injunctive relief to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 124241.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
124241.2.
(a) A youth tackle football league, youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or coach of a youth sports organization shall allow youth tackle football participants to use safety equipment, including soft-shelled add-ons on football helmets.
(b) A court may grant a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction to remedy a violation or threatened violation of this section.
(c) A prevailing plaintiff who obtains any remedy specified in subdivision (b) shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.