AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Over the last few years significant awareness has been raised on the issue of sports-related head injuries.  While much attention has been placed on the diagnosis and prevention of sports-related head injuries through medical analysis, proper protective equipment is a necessity to aid in the prevention.  Football helmets are the first line of defense in preventing head injuries among Texas high school athletes and many of them are several years old as they have been passed down from one year to the next.

 

Currently, the University Interscholastic League does not have any rules regarding the age of a helmet or how often it must be reconditioned.  H.B. 675 bans the use of helmets that are 16 years old or older and requires helmets older than 10 years to be reconditioned at least every two years.  Districts would be required to keep documents proving the date a helmet was purchased and anytime a helmet is reconditioned.

 

H.B. 675 amends current law relating to football helmet safety requirements in public schools.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the University Interscholastic League in SECTION 1 (Section 33.094, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, by adding Section 33.094, as follows:

 

Sec. 33.094.  FOOTBALL HELMET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  Prohibits a school district from using a football helmet that is 16 years old or older in the district's football program.

 

(b)  Requires a school district to ensure that each football helmet used in the district's football program that is 10 years old or older is reconditioned at least once every two years.

 

(c)  Requires a school district to maintain and make available to parents of students enrolled in the district documentation indicating the age of each football helmet used in the district's football program and the dates on which each helmet is reconditioned.

 

(d)  Authorizes the University Interscholastic League to adopt rules necessary to implement this section, provided that the rules must be approved by the commissioner of education in accordance with Section 33.083(b) (relating to the University Interscholastic League being a part of The University of Texas at Austin and being required to submit its rules and procedures for approval or disapproval).

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.