2025 -- H 5088 | |
======== | |
LC000467 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS | |
| |
Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Donovan, Ackerman, Casimiro, Bennett, | |
Date Introduced: January 16, 2025 | |
Referred To: House Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is |
2 | hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 16-21-43. Use of impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers in interscholastic league |
4 | football. |
5 | (a)(1) Recent developments in sports technology have created soft shell helmet covers. |
6 | (2) These soft shell helmet covers have been shown to reduce the impact of collisions in |
7 | contact sports by adding a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional hard-shelled |
8 | football helmet. |
9 | (3) As used in this section, the term “device” shall refer to a soft-shell helmet cover that |
10 | adds a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet which layers are |
11 | designed to reduce the impact of collisions to the body and the helmet, and thereby reduce the |
12 | incidence and minimize the effects of concussions and other trauma to the body. |
13 | (b)(1) Effective August 1, 2025, every student participating in the sport of football in the |
14 | Rhode Island interscholastic league shall be required to wear an impact-reducing soft-shell helmet |
15 | cover device at all times while participating in interscholastic league football games and practices |
16 | during any time in which a traditional football helmet would be used. The devices shall be |
17 | furnished by their respective school districts to all students participating in these sports; provided |
18 | that, a parent, guardian, responsible adult, or a student who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, |
19 | may elect to opt out of wearing these devices for practices or games, or both. |
| |
1 | (2) These devices shall remain the property of the school district at all times. |
2 | (c) The Rhode Island interscholastic league shall promulgate rules, regulations and |
3 | standards regarding the selection and use of these devices. |
4 | (d) The general assembly may, from time to time, appropriate funds to schools and school |
5 | districts to aid in the purchase of these devices. |
6 | (e) The provisions of this section shall apply to all public school districts as well as any |
7 | other school which participates in interscholastic league football. |
8 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC000467 | |
======== | |
| LC000467 - Page 2 of 3 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS | |
*** | |
1 | This act would mandate the use of a soft-shell helmet cover that adds a padded, soft-shell |
2 | layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet, for students participating in Rhode Island |
3 | interscholastic league football. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC000467 | |
======== | |
| LC000467 - Page 3 of 3 |